The Conway Police announced today the department will conduct extra saturation patrols and stepped up enforcement March 8-17 and April 12-21 looking for impaired drivers and especially young adults and teens who choose to drink and drive.

The mobilization is supported by television and radio ads.  The ads are to remind the public that CPD and agencies across Arkansas willbe out in force looking for all impaired drivers with an emphasis on violators of Arkansas’ Underage DUI Law, which makes it illegal for anyone under age 21 to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .02 or above.

With more young people hitting the road for spring break and end-of-school activities such as proms and graduations, this is a very timely message.  Underage drinking laws in all 50 states make it illegal for those under age 21 to consume any amount of alcohol.  For a young driver, this means one drink is all it takes to be impaired,” said Sgt. Ben Lackey with CPD.   “Impaired driving is not just another traffic offense, it is a serious crime that often causes needless deaths and injuries.” According to Lackey, the message is very simple, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”  If you are over the limit, you will be arrested and prosecuted.  

The saturation patrols are in addition to CPD’s efforts in fighting the problem of underage drinking through alcohol compliance checks at local businesses.  Underage informants working with officers go into businesses and order drinks to see if servers will comply with the law, those who don’t are ticketed.

For more information on the campaign, contact the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at 501-618-8136 or visitwww.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.