St. Patrick’s Day DUI Checkpoint Results Indicates the Scope of the Drunk Driving Problem

Although it is no surprise that the Kansas City Missouri Police Department conducted a DUI checkpoint from 9:00 p.m. last night until 4:00 a.m. this morning, I believe the results of this one traffic stop are surprising. The Kansas City Star reports that the checkpoint was conducted near Westport at 39th and Southwest Trafficway and resulted in 44 arrests for DUI. The stop only involved northbound traffic on Southwest Trafficway! 44 arrests from this one stop!

We can only guess at how many more people were driving under the influence yesterday throughout Kansas City, Missouri and the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. In spite of harsh penalties for drunk driving, people continue to make very bad choices. Thankfully, there were no corresponding reports in the paper of serious injuries from an alcohol related accident.

Drunk driving continues to be a serious problem on our roads in Missouri and Kansas. In 2008, there were 960 motor vehicle fatalities in Missouri and 38% of these were alcohol related. In Kansas, the 2008 statistics are similarly shocking with 41% of fatality accidents being alcohol related.

This is a problem of epidemic proportions. As attorneys handling personal injury cases in Kansas and Missouri, our office continues to see a steady stream of auto accident injuries caused by drunk driving. Lives are permanently altered. We all need to think before drink and drive.