On Friday September 21, from 11 p.m. until Saturday at 1 a.m., officers from the Howard County Sheriff Department and Kokomo Police Department, conducted a checkpoint targeting impaired drivers at Markland Avenue and Diamond Street, in Kokomo.The Howard County Emergency Management Agency also assisted in the checkpoint. During the two hour period, 223 vehicles passed through the checkpoint.
Two drivers were also cited for driving while suspended. Part of the checkpoint included roving patrols which netted two OWI arrests and one Habitual Traffic Violator arrest. In addition to the arrests, officers also issued several citations and warnings for various traffic offenses.
“I feel the checkpoint was a success and was great teamwork between the two agencies. The goal of the checkpoint is not how many drunk drivers we can arrest, but to deter impaired driving through high visibility enforcement. We are doing our absolute best by enforcing impaired driving laws and it showed this weekend” said Sgt. Justin Markley.
The purpose of enforcement checkpoints is to remove impaired drivers from Indiana roadways before they cause needless pain, suffering, or death to innocent victims. Impaired driving remains one of America’s deadliest problems. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2013, 32,719 people were killed nationally in motor vehicle crashes. That same year, 10,076 people were killed in crashes that involved a driver or motorcyclist with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. That means every 52 minutes someone died in a crash involving an impaired driver. In Indiana, in 2014, there were a total of
205,532 crashes, 4,574 involved an alcohol impaired driver, resulting in 101 deaths.
Motorists are encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers by calling 911. Give a vehicle description, location, and direction of travel. Never follow an impaired driver.