You Drink & Drive. You Lose.

Barry County Sheriff’s Office Cracking Down On Impaired Drivers Fourth of July Weekend

The Barry County Sheriff’s Office received a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Division for participation in the YOU DRINK & DRIVE. YOU LOSE. campaign to stop people from driving impaired over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.  Enforcement efforts will be increased July 2-5 and will focus on reducing deaths and serious injuries caused by impaired drivers. 

“Don’t risk it – if you plan to drink, don’t drive,” stated Barry County Sheriff Mick Epperly.  “Whether it is you license, your money or your life – You Drink and Drive. You Lose.”  Consider some of the consequences if you are caught driving while intoxicated:

   *For the first conviction (or first conviction in over five years), your license will be suspended for 30 days followed by a 60-day suspension if a hardship license is not obtained.

  *A second conviction results in a $1,000 fine, a yearlong revocation of your license and up to a year in jail.  You will also be required to install an ignition interlock system on your vehicle, preventing your car from starting when you have alcohol on your breath.

  *Third and subsequent convictions can be penalized with up to a $5,000 fine, a 10-year license denial, and/or up to seven years in jail.

  *If you cause a fatal crash while intoxicated you could be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, a felony resulting in up to seven years of jail time, a $5,000 fine or both.

  *Insurance coverage will be difficult to find and if you do the rates will be significantly higher.

For more information, please visit www.saveMOlives.com