Area states join together to launch high-visibility crack down on driving high

This weekend, law enforcement across the state will join forces for a high visibility drug-impaired driving enforcement effort – Drive High, Get a DUI.  The effort is spearheaded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and State Highway Safety Offices in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Officers from city, county, and state law enforcement agencies in these states will conduct high-visibility enforcement efforts to crack down on drug-impaired drivers.

MADD urges everyone to plan ahead for a safe ride home in advance of April 20, an unofficial cannabis holiday.  Drug-impaired driving is impaired driving, which means it is illegal in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

“Driving impaired on any substance is unacceptable, we will make zero exceptions for impaired driving.  If you drive high, you will get a DUI” said Independence Police Sergeant Jason Petersen.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, THC, the main active ingredient in marijuana, affects area of the brain that control your body’s movement, balance, coordination, memory and judgement – skills needed to drive safely.  Additionally, legal drugs including over-the-counter medications and prescribed medications can cause a driver to be impaired.

“Losing a loved one in an impaired driving crash is a pain and loss you feel forever.  Just because you drive somewhere, doesn’t mean you have to drive home” said MADD Heartland Chapter Leader Leann Briggs. “There is never a valid excuse for driving impaired; call a friend, taxi or utilize a ride sharing app like uber to get home safely.”