Lawrence police to join national crackdown on drinking and driving

Lawrence police will conduct a saturation patrol from 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, until 3 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22.

It’s part of a a nationwide crackdown on drinking and driving during an aggressive, 18-day enforcement that began today.

More than 100 law enforcement agencies in the state are participating in the effort, dubbed “Drunk driving. Over the limit. Under arrest.” Officers will conduct high-visibility enforcement through Labor Day, Sept. 7.

“Their aim is to dramatically reduce the number of preventable deaths and injuries that occur when alcohol is mixed with driving — a particularly dangerous combination,” Kansas Highway Patrol Technical Trooper Tim McCool said in a news release.

McCool said six people are killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes on any given day in Kansas. Last year, alcohol was a contributing factor in 34 percent of fatality crashes in the state and led to 131 deaths and nearly 2,000 injuries, the KHP said.

The state’s crackdown efforts are being paid for by a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation.