LaPorte County Police will be cracking down on drunk driving in March. Sheriff’s deputies will be conducting overtime patrols and sobriety checkpoints. It’s part of a statewide enforcement campaign with funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration distributed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
The Sheriff’s Office notes that St. Patrick’s Day and the NCAA tournament are two of the heaviest drinking events of the year. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute says there were 433 alcohol-related crashes in the state last March. They resulted in 205 injuries and five deaths.
Police say you can help prevent impaired driving by planning a safe way home before the celebration begins, designating a sober driver, and taking the keys from friends or family members who are about to drive while impaired. If you see a drunk driver, call 911.
Officers say they’ll also be watching for other forms of dangerous driving, such as aggressive driving or driving too fast for weather conditions.
