June 20, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Contact: Rosalie Thornburgh or Patrice Pomeroy,
Bureau of Traffic Safety, (785) 296-375603-075

Sobriety Checkpoints to Remove Drunk Drivers

Kansans encouraged to cruise without booze

In the time it takes to drive from Kansas City to Wichita, six Americans will be killed by drunk drivers. Ninety-five will be injured.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), the Kansas Highway Patrol and local law enforcement officials are determined to get drunk drivers off the road. One tool at their disposal is the sobriety checkpoint.

According to Rosalie Thornburgh, chief of KDOT’s Bureau of Traffic Safety, KDOT plans to use that tool. Drivers should expect a concentrated crack down around the Fourth of July holiday when summer celebrations tend to spawn high numbers of impaired drivers.

From Friday, June 27 through Sunday, July 13, 21 sobriety checkpoints, funded through grants from the Kansas Department of Transportation, will be conducted throughout the state to ensure people are not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In addition, approximately 80 other law enforcement agencies are expected to independently conduct impaired driving enforcement. Although checkpoints are conducted throughout Kansas year around, these extra efforts are being made in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) “You Drink & Drive. You Lose.” campaign.

KDOT officials say sobriety checkpoints have been effective in removing drunk drivers from Kansas streets and highways. During 2002, checkpoints contributed to the more than 21,800 DUI arrests statewide.

“We encourage everyone to have a blast during the Fourth of July holiday,” Thornburgh said. “We’re just saying, if you do drink, be sure to find a safe way home or designate a sober driver.”

Nearly 100 local law enforcement agencies participate in the checkpoints each year in Kansas.

These agencies are supported in their efforts by the services of the Kansas Highway Patrol Breath Alcohol Unit (BAU). The BAU provides manpower, breath testing equipment and expertise in conducting successful sobriety checkpoints.

Sobriety checkpoints involve stopping drivers at a given location at a designated time. Typically drivers are detained for only a few minutes as they drive through a checkpoint.

According to Thornburgh, public education is key to the program. “We notify citizens in advance of the checkpoints and publicize the activity and DUI arrests after the event. Heightened public awareness is an important tool in deterring drunk driving,” Thornburgh said.

Of the 511 people who lost their lives on Kansas roadways in 2002, 102 died in alcohol-related crashes.

“People need to realize the potenial dangers of getting behind the wheel after drinking,” Thornburgh said. “Not only may they be putting themselves at risk, others are at risk too. We’re going to do everything we can to get drunk drivers off the road.”

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SIDEBAR ATTACHED: What if you’re stopped at a checkpoint?

What if you’re stopped at a checkpoint?

Anyone driving through a checkpoint will be asked by an officer if they’ve consumed any alcoholic beverages before getting behind the wheel. If the driver says yes – or if the officer smells alcohol – the driver will be pulled over and given a field sobriety test. Any driver who appears impaired during that test will be given a breath test to see if their breath alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeds .08. If it does, the driver will be arrested.

If this is the driver’s first DUI, they can be jailed for 48 hours – or, at the court’s discretion, assigned 100 hours of community service – and ordered to complete an alcohol and drug abuse treatment program. In addition, there are fines from $500 to $1,000, plus court costs. And driving privileges will be suspended for 30 days. If there is a child under the age of 14 in the car, a month of imprisonment is added to the jail sentence.

“Most people have no idea just how expensive a DUI charge can be,” says Rosalie Thornburgh, chief of KDOT’s Bureau of Traffic Safety. “There are lawyer’s fees, court costs, lost wages due to jail time and possible increased car insurance rates. It’s not unthinkable for those costs to total $18,000 for a first DUI.”

Second, third or fourth offenses carry even stiffer penalties.

Kansas has a zero tolerance law for young drivers under the age of 21. Anyone attempting to operate a motor vehicle with a breath or blood alcohol content of .02 or above will have their driving privileges suspended for 30 days.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

In Kansas, it’s against the law to drive or attempt to operate a motor vehicle while having a blood or breath alcohol concentration (B.A.C.) of .08 or above. Penalties for violating this law are stiff.

First DUI offense:

  • 48 hours of mandatory imprisonment or 100 hours of community service.
  • Mandatory completion of an alcohol and drug safety action education program or treatment program.
  • Fine of $500 to $1,000, plus court costs and evaluation fees.
  • Driving privileges could be suspended for 30 days, then restricted for an additional 330 days.
  • As of July 1, 2003, a judge can rule an offender’s car impounded for a period up to one year.

Second DUI offense:

  • 90 days to one year of imprisonment.
  • Fine of $1,000 to $1,500, plus court costs and fees.
  • Driving privileges will be suspended for one year and will remain suspended until mandatory completion of alcohol/drug safety action education or treatment program.
  • After the year’s suspension of driving privileges, violator could be restricted to driving a car equipped with an ignition interlock device, which makes it impossible for anyone who is intoxicated to start the vehicle.

Third DUI offense:

  • Violator will be charged with a felony offense.
  • Receive 90 days to one year imprisonment.
  • Fined $1,500 to $2,500, plus court costs.
  • Driving privileges suspended for one year.
  • Mandatory completion of an alcohol and drug safety education or treatment program.
  • After completion of one year driving suspension, violator will be restricted to driving only vehicles equipped with an ignition interlock device.

Zero Tolerance for Youth

In 1997, the Kansas Legislature passed the “Zero Tolerance” law which makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to operate or attempt to operate a motor vehicle with a breath or blood alcohol content of .02 or above.

First offense: Driving privileges suspended for 30 days.

Second and Subsequent Offense: Driving privileges suspended for 90 days.