Community Corner
Hazelwood Police Crack Down on Drunk Driving
The department will set up DWI sobriety checkpoints somewhere in the city this Friday or Saturday.
Hazelwood Police Department’s latest sobriety checkpoints didn’t net any DWI arrests, but police officers did make arrests for other crimes.
The sobriety checkpoints held during May 17-18 resulted in six arrests, including two drug arrests, and also seized two firearms for safekeeping. Police also caught five fugitives and charged two with possession of marijuana and drug paraphenalia.
"Sobriety checkpoints are an innovative means of detecting and removing the alcohol-impaired driver from our local streets and highways," Hazelwood Police Chief Gregg Hall said in an earlier statement. "Driving while intoxicated continues to be a major contributing factor of traffic accidents in Missouri."
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Anyone who causes a fatal crash while intoxicated can be charged with involuntary manslaughter, a felony resulting in up to seven years in prison, a $5,000 fine or both. Other consequences for impaired drivers include the following:
Your license can be suspended for 90 days on your first conviction. You could be fined up to $500 and spend up to six months in jail.
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A second conviction results in a year-long revocation of your driver's license. You could be fined up to $1,000 and spend up to one year in jail.
Anyone guilty of a second or subsequent intoxication-related traffic offense will be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on their car before driving privileges can be reinstalled.
For third and subsequent convictions, you can be penalized with up to a $5,000 fine, a 10-year license denial, and/or up to seven years in jail.
Auto insurance coverage will be difficult to find. And, if convicted drivers do get coverage, their rates are usually significantly higher.
The Hazelwood Police Department plans to host another sobriety checkpoint this weekend, June 21-22.
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