MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Police Department will join law enforcement agencies across Kansas in an impaired driving enforcement campaign surrounding the Labor Day holiday.
HPD said it will participate in the “You Drink. You Drive. You Lose.” campaign from Aug. 28 through Sept. 7, with enforcement focused on removing impaired drivers from roadways.
Police are reminding motorists that alcohol is not the only substance that can impair a driver's ability to safely operate a vehicle. Illegal recreational drugs, including marijuana, can also impair driving and result in a DUI.
The campaign is intended to encourage motorists to consider the potentially life-changing consequences of getting behind the wheel while impaired. A decision to drive after drinking or using impairing drugs can result in arrest, a serious crash, injuries or death.
Hutchinson Police are urging drivers to make responsible choices before getting behind the wheel and to arrange for a sober driver when needed.
The local effort coincides with impaired-driving enforcement efforts taking place across Kansas and nationally around Labor Day. The Kansas Department of Transportation identifies the late-August and early-September period as one of its coordinated high-visibility enforcement periods.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data underscores the risks surrounding the holiday. During the 2024 Labor Day holiday period, 505 people were killed in crashes nationwide, and 170 of those fatalities occurred in crashes involving at least one alcohol-impaired driver.
HPD's message to motorists is simple: make the right choice and do not drive impaired.