| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 1794 | 2010-07-07 | Troop B | *Update* Troop B Participates in “NO REFUSAL” Campaign During the July 4th Weekend |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP B- NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Date: July 7, 2010 **UPDATE** During the July 4th “No Refusal Weekend”, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop B actively patrolled our area roadways looking for impaired drivers. Troop B arrested 32 impaired drivers and did not work any critical injury or fatal crashes. The “No Refusal” initiative resulted in three refusals in Jefferson Parish and one refusal in St. Charles Parish. Louisiana State Police will remain focused on ensuring the safety of motorists on our roadways. During the holiday weekend, Troop B also issued 367 speeding citations, 77 seat belt violations and 10 child restraint violations. The task of stopping impaired drivers requires the joint effort of law enforcement agencies and the public. By never allowing an impaired driver to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and reporting dangerous drivers to law enforcement, the public can play an important role in the reduction of crashes caused by impaired drivers. Contact the Louisiana State Police by dialing *LSP or (*577) on your cell phone to report impaired drivers and dangerous roadway conditions. The only designated driver is the person who has had NO ALCOHOL. Troop B Participates in “NO REFUSAL” Campaign During the July 4th Weekend Troop B - Louisiana State Police Troop B reminds everyone to make sure safety and sober driving is the number one priority this July 4th weekend. Louisiana State Police Troop B, Jefferson Parish and the St. Charles Parish District Attorney’s Offices will be implementing the DWI “No Refusal” this July 4th holiday weekend. Crashes involving serious injuries and fatalities historically are attributed to impaired drivers during holiday weekends. Holidays are a time for fun and sometimes can lead to consuming substances that cause impaired driving. This July 4th holiday, enjoy the festivities and help make this a safe holiday. Troop B Troopers will be aggressively patrolling the highways this entire July 4th holiday to ensure the safety of everyone as they travel to their destinations. For those individuals suspected of impaired driving and who refuse to submit to a chemical test, a search warrant for a blood and/or urine sample will be obtained. The reason for implementing the “No Refusal” during the July 4th holiday is based on the nationwide trend during certain holiday periods when alcohol consumption increases, such as Memorial Day, July 4th, Mardi Gras, Labor Day, etc. This has been addressed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration by educating the public about the dangers of impaired driving, increased patrols and checkpoint programs. The loss of life associated with impaired drivers causes a tremendous amount of grief to survivors for the remainder of their lives. To combat this trend and reduce the number of injuries and fatalities caused by impaired drivers, Troop B and other law enforcement agencies will implement the “No Refusal” initiative to ensure that every person arrested for DWI will submit to a test. “During Memorial Day weekend this year, we partnered with the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office implementing the ‘No Refusal’ initiative. We saw a decrease in fatality crashes in our area,” stated Captain Carl Saizan, Commander of Troop B. “The holiday weekends can be devastating to families that suffer the loss of a loved one. We will continue to combat impaired drivers on our highways and if you are caught driving while impaired, you will be arrested.” To report possible impaired drivers or road hazards, citizens are urged to call *LSP (*577) from their cellular phones. Contact Information: Tpr. Melissa Matey Public Information Officer Louisiana State Police - Troop B Office: (504) 471-2780 Melissa.Matey@dps.la.gov WWW.LSP.ORG | |||
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