Jefferson City police start youth alcohol enforcement campaign

Jefferson City police are ramping up enforcement against drinking and drinking and driving.

The efforts are especially focused on younger drivers.

Extra officers are on duty during the youth alcohol enforcement campaign. They are also keeping an eye out for those who may be drinking under the age of 21.

The campaign lasts through May 15. During the same campaign last year, 10 people across the state were seriously hurt in crashes involving at least one impaired driver under the age of 21.

“This time of year is when all the proms are picking up and kids are out doing more toward the end of the school year,” said Officer Shawn Dumsday with the Jefferson City Police Department. “This time of year is when it has a tendency for kids to start – youth to start maybe having more opportunity or taking opportunity to drink and drink and drive.”

Missouri has a zero-tolerance law. That means drivers younger than 21 years old who are caught driving with any trace of alcohol in their system may have their license suspended.

Friday night may be a busy night for those officers, as extra people are in Jefferson City for the Shelbyfest Mustang Rally.

It is also Cinco de Mayo, one of the bigger drinking days of the year.

From 2011 to 2015, drunk-driving crashes on Cinco de Mayo killed 270 people nationwide, according to the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.