Jefferson City police step up drunk driving enforcement for holiday weekend

Jefferson City police have extra officers on duty for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

The police department said additional officers will patrol downtown and the north side of the city in particular.

Officers will especially be on the lookout for drunk driving, as the department is taking part in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. The extra enforcement effort will run Friday, July 1 through Tuesday, July 5.

“It’s all about safety for the public,” Sgt. Doug Ruediger said. “You know, we want to make sure people have a good time and enjoy the holiday weekend but are responsible with their actions and their driving. We want them to get to where they’re going and get back home. You know, we want them to do it safely.”

In 2015, 192 people died and 644 were seriously hurt in Missouri crashes involving at least one impaired driver, according to the Jefferson City Police Department.

Last year during the holiday weekend, Jefferson City officers arrested three people for drinking and driving. Police also responded to 20 crashes over the holiday weekend, but none involved impaired drivers.

The overtime for the extra officers will be funded by a grant by the Missouri Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic and Highway Safety and Missouri Safety Center.