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420 Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign

04/19/2018

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Law enforcement officials from several agencies will be conducting an impaired driving campaign to coincide with an unofficial "holiday" associated with marijuana use.

Starting at midnight April 20, law enforcement officers in Arkansas and six other states will "increase patrols, conduct checkpoints, and raise awareness of the impacts of drug-impaired driving," according to Sheriff Bobby May.

“With April 20th being the informal holiday associated with smoking marijuana we know there will be an increased use and unfortunately we expect many to be driving and that is an unsafe combination no matter what you think of marijuana use,” commented Sheriff May.

Officers with the St Francis County Sheriff’s Department, Forrest City PD, and Arkansas State Police will be looking for any impaired drivers on the road and if someone is caught impaired they can face a DWI charge just like if they were drinking alcohol.

“We know research studies have shown negative effects of marijuana on drivers, including an increase in lane weaving, poor reaction time, and altered attention to the road. Use of alcohol with marijuana made drivers even more impaired, causing even more lane weaving and creating a dangerous situation for everyone on the road,” added Sheriff May.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the number of drivers involved in deadly crashes after 4:20 p.m. on April 20 is higher than at the same times one week earlier and one week later.

"Through this enhanced enforcement campaign, we are hoping to keep drug-impaired drivers off the roads and save some lives," Sheriff May added.

The 420 Impaired Driver Campaign will be conducted April 20th thru the 22nd  2018

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