The Springfield Police Department says it’s planning at least one DWI checkpoint in the month of April.
Lisa Cox is the department’s public affairs officer. She says at these checkpoints police typically come across at least one driver operating a vehicle under the influence, and that organized traffic stop may have prevented an incident down the road.
“Its beneficial for the city because someone’s loved one could’ve come in contact with that driver a block away, a mile away, 20 miles away and could’ve potentially been hurt due to their driving impairment,” says Cox.
The checkpoint is made possible through a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Cox says the department takes drunk driving very seriously, and reminds motorists of the penalties for doing so.
“We are watching and that we do enforce these laws on a daily basis but obviously more so on the checkpoint night and they have serious consequences, financial consequences, but obviously there’s a lot of lives lost every year due to driving while intoxicated.”
According to the department’s most recent annual report, there were over 2,600 alcohol and drug-related crashes statewide in 2014, resulting in 205 deaths. Of those accidents, the Springfield Police Department investigated 223.