Troopers arrest more than 100 people for DWI over New Year holiday counting period in Missouri

Two people are dead and more than 100 others are facing possible charges for driving while intoxicated after the New Year holiday weekend in Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s counting period started the night of Friday, Dec. 30 and ends Monday, Jan. 2 at 11:59 p.m.

Official numbers have yet to come in, but crash reports show there have been at least 55 crashes across the state so far over the counting period.

Troopers arrested at least 101 people on suspicion for DWI, according to the highway patrol’s arrest records.

Preliminary crash numbers for the holiday weekend are much lower compared to last year when there was more than 950 crashes and seven deaths, according to the highway patrol.

However, this year’s crash numbers are similar to the year prior with two deaths and nearly 80 crashes.

In Jefferson City, the police department’s holiday counting period went from Dec. 15 through Jan. 1.

Over that time frame, there were 80 crashes in the city and nine DWI arrests, according to Sgt. Doug Ruediger with JCPD.

The department had extra officers on duty New Year’s Eve but made no DWI arrests that night, which is unusual according to Ruediger.

“We usually have at least a couple,” Ruediger said. “But I saw quite a few taxis running around town, so hopefully people were taking advantage of taxicab rides and the sober driver program that some of the local bars participate in.”