Local police increasing presence for Labor Day weekend

Law enforcement agencies across Northwest Arkansas will partner with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to stem drunken driving over Labor Day weekend.

The national campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, started Aug. 19 and runs through Sept. 5, according a news release. During the period police will "show zero tolerance" toward intoxicated drivers, increase patrols and implement sobriety checkpoints, the release said.

Police in Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers and the sheriff's offices in Benton and Washington counties will participate. Troop L of the Arkansas State Police, which serves Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington counties, also will participate.

"People need to understand that drunk driving is not only deadly, but it is illegal," said Lt. Derek Wright, Springdale police spokesman.

According to the NHSTA, on average, over 10,000 people died each year in drunken driving-related crashes.

In 2014, 40 percent of the fatalities over Labor Day weekend involved intoxicated rivers -- the highest percentage over a five-year period, the agency said. Most of those crashes occurred in the evening and early morning hours.

"Driving while intoxicated isn't worth the risk to your life or the lives of others," said Keith Foster, Rogers police spokesman. "There are so many other options available, there really isn't an excuse for drinking and driving."

Bentonville Capt. John Hubbard said his department had "no plans at this time" to participate in the campaign.

NW News on 08/28/2016

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