Wichita police officers will be involved in national DUI effort
The Wichita police department is getting a $52,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation to take part in a national campaign to crack down on drunk driving. The "Over the Limit-Under Arrest" campaign will run from now through September 3rd.
Police lieutenant Joe Schroeder says officers will be working overtime with funds provided by the grant, and they'll be conducting DUI saturation patrols to watch for drunk drivers. There may also be DUI checkpoints, but Schroeder says the saturation patrols have been more effective in recent years. The campaign last year resulted in 37 DUI arrests by Wichita police officers, along with 1,034 citations for various traffic offenses.
Schroeder says the number of DUI arrests is down compared to this time last year. He says there have been 1,054 arrests so far in 2012, which is 283 below last year. Schroeder says it's hoped that the lower arrest number means that people are being more responsible. He says people should have a plan for a designated driver or a cab ride home if they're going to be celebrating Labor Day weekend with alcoholic beverages.
Sedgwick County sherif's deputies will also be involved in the special enforcement program, with a goal of reducing the number of DUI related injuries and fatalities on the roads.
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