The La Porte Police Department is joining law-enforcement agencies across Indiana this March to increase dangerous and impaired driving patrols for the NCAA Tournament and St. Patrick’s Day.

Last year, the weekend beginning St. Patrick’s Day had the highest number crashes involving impaired drivers. With March 17, 2018 falling on a Saturday, police are conducting random patrols, saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints intended to make our roads safer.

“If you’re watching March Madness or celebrating St. Patrick’s Day from a bar or pub, draft a sober driver, cab or ridesharing service to get home safely,” said Captain Pat Hemphill. “Our officers are trained to spot – and there will be zero tolerance for – impaired and dangerous drivers.”

The top causes of all Indiana traffic crashes are drivers following too closely and failing to yield the right of way. Aggressive, distracted and impaired driving reduce reaction times to unexpected slowed traffic, bicycles and pedestrians.