Partygoers on New Year’s Eve appeared to be on their best behavior.
That’s according to Emporia Police Department Sgt. Lisa Sage who reports there were no DUI arrests within Lyon county or the city of Emporia in the 24 hour period between the final day of 2018 and the start of 2019. Sage says there were several traffic stops reported throughout that time, however, none resulted in anyone being taken to jail for being under the influence of alcohol.
Sage attributes this to residents becoming more aware of the consequences of drunk driving.
Sage also believes local law enforcement efforts, such as the recent “Take-Down DUI” campaign by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and partnerships with the state had a major impact on the low numbers of impaired drivers. The Kansas Department of Transportation offers several grant programs which help compensate for overtime of law enforcement officials allowing for more officers to be on patrol during times such as New Year’s Eve.
In addition to a heavier presence of law enforcement on the roadways, officers also performed extra bar checks throughout the evening to ensure residents were drinking and celebrating responsibly.
The numbers reported for this year are identical to last year which also saw no arrests made for DUI.
