{"id":38214,"date":"2026-08-17T11:40:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T15:40:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=38214"},"modified":"2026-08-18T08:09:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T12:09:06","slug":"adams-county-law-enforcement-to-increase-impaired-driving-enforcement-ahead-of-labor-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/17\/adams-county-law-enforcement-to-increase-impaired-driving-enforcement-ahead-of-labor-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Adams County law enforcement to increase impaired driving enforcement ahead of Labor Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As summer winds down, Adams County Law Enforcement<\/strong> is partnering with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute<\/a> (ICJI) to increase patrols and conduct sobriety checkpoints as part of the annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over<\/a> national enforcement campaign, supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program (CHIRP), an ICJI initiative that provides federal funding for local traffic safety enforcement, officers statewide will work overtime beginning August 19 through September 7, 2026, to identify and stop motorists under the influence of drugs and alcohol. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur officers are seeing the consequences of impaired driving far too often,\u201d said Decatur Police Department Deputy Chief Derek Loshe<\/strong>. \u201cAs we enter the final weeks of summer, we\u2019re asking every driver to make responsible decisions. A sober ride isn\u2019t just the safest option\u2014it\u2019s the choice that saves lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preliminary data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) shows that in 2025, nearly 23% of Indiana\u2019s traffic fatalities involved alcohol, and more than 41% involved drug impairment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cImpaired driving continues to be one of the most serious threats on our roadways, and we\u2019re focused on reducing these tragedies through education and enforcement,\u201d said Douglas Huntsinger, executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. \u201cThis year\u2019s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign reminds everyone that impaired driving is preventable. When you choose a sober ride, you\u2019re helping protect your community and ensuring everyone makes it home safely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Indiana, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, although drivers can be arrested at any BAC level if an officer believes they are impaired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have a Plan Whether You’re Driving, Riding, or Hosting:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n