Law Enforcement To Step Up Checkpoints Labor Day Weekend

Law enforcement around the state will be out in force hoping to stop crashes and save lives this Labor Day weekend.

Saturday, September 5th 2015, 7:52 pm

By: Grant Hermes


Law enforcement around the state will be out in force hoping to stop crashes and save lives this Labor Day weekend.

As summer unofficially winds down this Labor Day weekend, law enforcement agencies across Oklahoma will be stepping up and look for impaired and drunk drivers.

"We know that alcohol is going to be used. We don't advocate the use of alcohol, but if you're going to drink, don't drive," Oklahoma Highway Patrol Capt. Kurt McKean said.

The push is a part of the state's ENDUI program which started back in January. Designed to help curb the number of crashes caused by impaired drivers they've made hundreds of stops.

According to the Oklahoma Highway Safety office in 2014, those numbers topped 4,600 crashes, killing 190 people. 

So officers, troopers and deputies are setting up check points and adding more resources hoping to make people aware of the consequences of driving under the influence, although they say the last thing they want to do is haul someone away in hand cuffs.

"We would much rather not put somebody through the system, if they'll just use some common sense," McKean said.

Officials also want that common sense to extend to bartenders and restaurants, and services like taxis or car services like Uber to make themselves available during what's shaping up to be one last busy summer weekend.

"Life's full of choices, OK? You can make the choice to drink and drive or you can make the choice to have a designated driver. It's that simple," McKean said.

Oklahoma officers will also be watching out at Lake Hefner, too. They say boating while impaired may be more dangerous than getting behind the wheel, drunk.

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