Hamilton Co. Traffic Safety Partnership Adding Patrols In March

HAMILTON COUNTY, IN -- The Hamilton County Traffic Safety Partnership, a coalition of law enforcement agencies around Hamilton County, is joining law-enforcement agencies across Indiana this March to increase dangerous and impaired driving patrols for the NCAA Tournament and St. Patrick’s Day.

Why the increase in patrols? Police officials say last year, the weekend of St. Patrick's Day had the highest number of crashes involving impaired drivers, and this year's St. Patrick's Day is on a Saturday, which means more random, saturation and sobriety patrols and checkpoints will take place to make our roads safer.

“If you’re watching March Madness or celebrating St. Patrick’s Day from a bar or pub, draft a sober driver, cab or ridesharing service to get home safely,” said Hamilton County Sheriff Mark Bowen, in a release sent to Patch. “Our officers are trained to spot – and there will be zero tolerance for – impaired and dangerous drivers.”

Did you know that the top causes of all Indiana traffic crashes are drivers following too closely and failing to yield the right of way? That's according to HCTSP, who also says that aggressive, distracted and impaired driving reduce reaction times to unexpected slowed traffic, bicycles and pedestrians.

Don't even think about drinking and driving. If you do, you may be met with one of more than 2,500 new portable breath Indiana law enforcement agencies will have this year, from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

Sheriff's office officials remind you that in every state, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, and drivers under 21 with a BAC of .02 in Indiana are subject to fines and a license suspension for up to one year.

RELATED: Indiana Officers Get More Than 1,700 Portable Breathalyzers

But that's not all, officials say unlike alcohol, there is no quick field test for the legal and illegal drugs that can impair drivers, so ICJI and NHTSA are issuing Android tablets and apps to assist 185 highly-trained police officers in the recognition and enforcement of drug-impaired driving. So, if you're taking a new drug or higher dose, police say to talk with your doctor or don't drive until you know how it affects you, as even over-the-counter medication such as cold medicine or sleep aids may cause impairment, especially when combined with alcohol or a second drug. Experience different perspectives on an impaired-driving crash scene in 360 degrees at https://on.in.gov/nobigdeal.

More: hamiltoncounty.in.gov

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