Missouri Highway Patrol to Focus on Teen Drinking and Driving
By: Shayla Patrick
Updated: May 1, 2012
CARTHAGE, MO - The Missouri State Highway Patrol is stepping up patrols as we near the end of the school year. Officers generally increase their presence in rural areas from now until around mid-May to help monitor teenage drinking.
That includes more check-points, where every car passing through a designated area is stopped, and saturation patrols, where more officers will patrol in a certain area. High school proms and graduations happen frequently this time of year which can heighten alcohol related accidents involving students.
"The 15 - 20 year old age group in the state of Missouri has the third highest number of crashes involving alcohol for the driver, than any other age group," said Sgt.Mike Watson with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Penalties for teens caught driving under the influence include fines, a suspended license, or a requirement to use ignition interlocks.
