2021 DRIVE HIGH, GET A DUI.

  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/18/2021

CONTACT: Sgt. Joe Beaudin Stone County Sheriff's Office/ Lt. Jeremy Beaudin Mountain View Police Department

 

This Labor Day, NHTSA Reminds Drivers: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI.

Mountain View, Arkansas - We know buzzed driving is drunk driving, but what about driving while drug-impaired? Nationally, it is illegal to drive while impaired by any substance, and this includes drugs. This Labor Day weekend, law enforcement in Stone County and Mountain View are participating in the If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI. impaired driving awareness campaign, which runs from August 20th through September 6, 2021. In support of the law enforcement community's dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, you'll see officers working together during this holiday weekend to take drug-impaired drivers off the roads. These expanded efforts to protect against impaired driving will be conducted in a fair and equitable way.

 

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), between 2009 and 2018, of those drivers killed in crashes and tested for marijuana, the presence of marijuana had nearly doubled. In 2018, 46% of drivers who were killed in crashes and were tested for drugs, tested positive. This is why it's so important we spread this lifesaving message: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI. It doesn't matter what term you use: If a person is feeling a little high, buzzed, stoned, wasted, or drunk, he or she should not get behind the wheel. Think driving while high won't affect you? You're wrong. It has been proven that THC can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.

 

"We want to support our community by keeping it safe from drug-impaired drivers," said Sheriff Lance Bonds and Chief George Bethell. "The bottom line is that no matter what the substance is, if it has impaired you, you should not be driving. We want everyone to enjoy a safe and happy Labor Day. Please commit to yourself and your community members that you'll drive sober over the holiday weekend, and every day," They said. 

 

Stone County Sheriff's Office and Mountain View Police Department and NHTSA are reminding citizens of the many resources available to get them home safely. "Driving impaired is a choice," said Sheriff Bonds and Chief Bethell. "Make the right choice and find a sober ride home if you've used an impairing substance. Let's work together to end impaired driving," They said. 

 

Violating  Arkansas's drug-impaired-driving laws can be costly.

Play It Safe

Remember these safety tips as you prepare for the holiday, and spread the message to your friends and family members:

• If you have used an impairing substance such as marijuana, do not drive. Passengers should never ride with an impaired driver. If you think a driver may be impaired, do not get in the car.
• If you are planning to use drugs, plan ahead for a sober driver to safely drive you to your destination. Like drunk driving, it is essential that drug-impaired drivers refrain from driving a vehicle. It is never okay to drive while impaired by any substance.
• Do you have a friend who is about to drive while impaired by drugs? Take the keys away and arrange to get them home safely. Don't worry about offending someone - they'll thank you later.
• If available, use your community's sober ride program
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact Stone County Sheriff's Office or Mountain View Police Department.

 

Please join us in sharing the lifesaving message, If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drug-impaired-driving.