West Plains, MO. – Throughout the evening of March 17, 2023, officers with the West Plains Police Department conducted a Driving While Impaired Saturation Campaign for the Saint Patrick’s Day holiday utilizing grant funds received through the Missouri Department of Transportation. The focus of the event was to identify and arrest individuals who were operating vehicles on our roadways while impaired by the effects of alcohol or controlled substances.
The Missouri Highway Safety Grant Program provides funds to participating law enforcement agencies to enhance the capabilities of traffic enforcement efforts by providing financial assistance to fund overtime to officers to enforce specific violations such as Driving While Intoxicated related offenses and various types of Hazardous Moving Violations.
During the evening and overnight hours of Saint Patrick’s Day, West Plains Police Officers conducted a total of seventy-two traffic stops resulting in three arrests for Driving While Intoxicated and a multitude of additional traffic violations. Officers also located two individuals with active warrants who were placed under lawful arrest. While conducting a search incident to arrest one such individual, a substantial quantity of narcotics was seized resulting in additional felony charges.
The West Plains Police Department would like to remind the public to always preplan a safe way home and ensure that if the plan involves drinking alcohol that it does not involve driving. Simply put, doing this will assist greatly in ensuring that all who travel our roadways can do so safely.
