The Owensboro Police Department will be conducting a Traffic Safety Checkpoint in the 2000 block of W. 2nd Street targeting impaired driving tonight. It is required by law that law enforcement announces to the public the date and time of checkpoints.
Checkpoints are designed to have a deterrent effect on impaired driving and are aimed at reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol and/or drug involved crashes.
In 2018 (the last year where statistics were available), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found more than 10,500 deaths were attributed to drunk driving crashes, and 29% of motor vehicle traffic fatalities were caused by drunk driving.
An arrest for impaired driving can include jail time, fines, substance abuse classes and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.
