Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
Kalispell Law Enforcement in Full Force
June 28, 2018, Kalispell, Mont. – This Fourth of July, drive sober or you will get pulled over. As part of the July 4th holiday from July 2 through the weekend, increased patrols will be on the road in Kalispell ensuring all residents get home safe. Local law enforcement, along with the Montana Highway Patrol, urge all drivers to remain sober, plan for a designated driver, or find a safe ride.
In Montana, impaired drivers are involved in nearly half of all fatal crashes and in three out of every 10 serious injury crashes. (i) When and individual’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level is above zero, vision, reflexes, and reasoning may be impaired.
“Every person has a unique response to alcohol. That means while one drink may have limited effects on one individual, it may cause substantial impairment to another,” said Tim Falkner, Patrol Captain. “Even if you’ve only had one drink, it’s not safe to get behind the wheel.”
As the celebrations begin, be sure to plan. In the past 10 years, nearly 1,000 Montanans have died needlessly in vehicle crashes involving an impaired driver. (ii) Designating a sober driver, taking public transportation, and offering non-alcoholic drinks are all ways to better ensure the safety of everyone.
“The Fourth of July is a widely celebrated holiday, and we know alcohol is often a part of this,” said Falkner of Kalispell. “As a community, it’s our job to look out for one another and make sure everyone is aware of both the consequences and alternatives to drinking and driving. No one’s celebration should end in tragedy.”
In all 50 states, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher. If you are pulled over and found to be impaired, you will receive a DUI, have your license revoked, and possibly receive jail time and up to $10,000 in fines, (iii) and the stakes increase with each DUI. To avoid the consequences altogether and get home safely, be sure to arrange sober transportation for all, report suspected impaired drivers by calling 911, and always buckle up as it continues to be the best defense against impaired drivers.
Increased traffic safety patrols are funded by the Montana Department of Transportation. This and other enforcement, engineering, emergency medical services, and educational campaigns are strategies to reach Vision Zero — zero deaths and zero serious injuries on Montana roadways. For more information about Vision Zero, contact Charity Watt, Montana Department of Transportation, 406-444-3439 or cwatt@mt.gov.
[i] https://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/brochures/safety/probid.pdf, pg. 18, Section 8.2
[ii] https://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/datastats/crashdata.shtml
[iii] http://www.mdt.mt.gov/visionzero/docs/what-a-dui-will-cost-you-brochure.pdf