06-28-18 Drive Sober or Get Pulled OverFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Tim Folkner. Patrol Captain
406-758-77921 ttalkner@kalispell.mm
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
Kalispell Law Enforcement in Full Farce
June 28, 2018, Kalispell, Mont. -This Fourth of July, drive saber or you will get pulled over. As part of
the July 4th holiday from July 2 through the weekend. increased patrols will be on the road in Kalispell
ensuring all residents get home safe. Local law enforcement, along with the Montano Highway
Patrol, urges all drivers to remain sober, plan for a designated tlriver, or find a safe ride.
In Montana, impaired drivers are involved in nearly half of all total crashes and in three out of every
10 serious Injury crashes.l] When an individual blood alcohol concentration (BAC( level is above
. vision, reflexes, and reasoning may be impaired.
zEvery person has a unique response to alcohol. That means while one drink may have limited effects
individual. it may cause substantial impairment to another." said Tim Feigner, Patrol Captain.
oEven if you've only had one drink. its not safe to get behind the wheel"
As the celebrations begin, be sure to plan. In the past 10 years. nearly 1.000 Montanans have died
needlessly in vehicle crashes involving an impaired tlriverp] Designating a sober driver, taking public
transportation, and offering non-alcoholic drinks are all ways to better ensure the safety of everyone.
The Fourth of July is a widely celebrated holitlay, and we know alcohol is often a part of this. said
Falkner of Kalispell. "As a community, it's our jab to look out for one another antl make sure everyone
is dead e of both the consequences and alternatives to brinki no and driving. No one's celebration
sh0uld end fn tragedy"
all 50 states, it Is Illegal to tlrive with a BAC of .08 or higher. If you ore pulled over and found to be
impairetl, you will receive a DUI, have your license revoked. and possibly receive jail time and up to
$10.000infines.IL] And the stakes increase with each DUI. To avoid the consequences altogether
and get home safely, be sure to arrange sober transportation for all, report suspected impaired
drivers by calling 911. and always buckle up as it continues to be the best defense against impaired
drivers.
Increased traffic safety patrols are funded by the Montano Department of Transportation. This and
other enforcement, engineering, emergency medical services, and educational campaigns are
strategies to reach Vision Zero —zero dearths and zero serious injuries on Montana roadways. For
more information about Vision Zero, contact Charity Watt. Montana Department of Transportation.
406-444-3439 or cw ffifi ov.