Every year, summer travelers hit Indiana’s roads in droves to enjoy barbecues, picnics, lakes and pool parties. This also increases impaired driving on the way home from summer festivities.
Every August, more than 230 Indiana police agencies join thousands nationwide for Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement. This year, the La Porte County DUI Taskforce will be performing sobriety checkpoints and patrols all summer long. Police will be working overtime using federal funds administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Impaired driving includes alcohol and prescription or illegal drugs. In every state, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. In Indiana, drivers under 21 with a BAC of .02 or higher
are subject to fines and a license suspension for up to 1 year. Over-the-counter medication may also cause impairment when combined with alcohol or a second drug. If you’re taking a new drug or a higher dose, talk with your doctor or don’t drive until you know how it
affects you. A DUI arrest means going to jail and losing your driver’s license. The average DUI cost? About $10,000 including car towing and repairs, attorney fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work and other hefty expenses. For more information about impaired driving visit on.IN.gov/buzzeddriving .