Local law enforcement will be out in force, reminding drivers that if You Drink, You Drive, You Lose, leading up to the Labor Day Holiday.
The annual enforcement effort begins Saturday and will continue through Labor Day, September 1. Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch, a guest of KVOE’s Newsmaker Friday, says officers will have a sharp eye out for any drivers who appear to be impaired, and not just due to alcohol.
According to statistics from the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, 83 fatalities and more than 1,000 injuries were reported in 2024 as a result of crashes caused by an impaired driver. If you are planning to attend an event or activity where you will be consuming alcohol or other substances, Koelsch says it is important to have a plan for how to get home that does not involve getting behind the wheel. This includes having a designated driver, calling for a ride through a ride share service, or making plans to stay where you are until you sober up.
If you are caught driving impaired, the consequences can be severe, including jail time, hefty fines, suspension or revocation of your license and court fees. But, the greatest risk and consequence, in Koelsch’s opinion, is the danger you are placing others in.
The state considers a driver impaired with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher. Koelsch says it can take only two drinks or less in some cases for a person to become impaired.
