Jefferson City police increase DWI patrols over St. Patrick’s Day weekend

The Jefferson City Police Department is stepping up its enforcement of Driving While Intoxicated offenses over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

Thursday through Sunday, extra officers will be on patrol as part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign along with other law enforcement agencies across the state.

“Historically, this is a weekend that more people get out and go to the bars and probably tend to drink a little more,” said Sgt. Doug Ruediger, the head of the JCPD Traffic Unit. “And of course, we’re out here to promote don’t drink and drive. Don’t get in a vehicle with someone that’s been drinking. Just trying to keep the community safe.”

Last year, crashes involving at least one substance impaired driver killed 179 people and seriously hurt 643 others in Missouri, according to the police department.

In Jefferson City, crashes involving alcohol or drugs killed three people and seriously hurt 21 others from 2012-2014, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation’s latest reports available online.

Jefferson City police arrested five people last year for DWI offenses over the same holiday weekend, according to Ruediger.