The Riverside Police Department received a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Division for participation in the You Drink and Drive, You Lose campaign to stop people from driving impaired.  Enforcement efforts will be increased March 12-14, 2010 and will focus on reducing death and serious injuries caused by impaired drivers.

“It’s never worth the risk to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol”, stated Chief Greg Mills.  “Whether it is your license, your money or your life – You Drink and Drive, You lose.”

Consider some consequences if you are caught driving while intoxicated:

• For the first conviction (or first conviction in over 5 years), your license will be suspended for 30 days followed by a 60 day point suspension if a hardship license is not obtained.
•  A second conviction results in a $1,000.00 fine, a yearlong revocation of your license and up to a year in jail.  You will also be required to install an ignition interlock system on your vehicle, preventing your car from starting when you have alcohol on your breath
•  Third and subsequent convictions can be penalized with up to a $5,000.00 fine, a 10 year license denial, and/or up to seven years in prison.
•  If you cause a fatal crash while intoxicated, you could be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, a felony resulting in up to seven years of jail time, a $5,000.00 fine or both.
•  Insurance coverage will be difficult to find and if you do the rates will be significantly higher.

 For more information contact visit www.saveMOlives.com