Overall the Eaton County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to 762 calls for service/events. Our higher call volumes occurred in the following areas: Alarms (28), Car/Deer Accidents (26), Assist Citizen/Motorist Assists (29), Check Well Beings (23), Domestic Disputes (18), Shoplifting Complaints (39), Larcenies (17), Follow-up of Any Kind (41), Property Damage Hit & Run (10), Personal Injury Crashes (3), Property Damage Crashes (32), Suspicious Subject/Situation/Vehicle (30), Traffic Hazards (21), Traffic Stops (107), Traffic Violations (46), and Vacation Checks (14).
The holiday party season is upon us. Whether you are partying with family, friends, or co-workers – alcohol, medications, or drugs and driving do not mix. If you feel different, you drive different. It doesn’t matter if you are feeling a little high, buzzed, stoned, wasted, or drunk, you should never get behind the wheel.
Something as simple as cold medicine or an over-the-counter sleep aid could impair your driving. If you are taking a new prescription drug or a higher dose of a current prescription drug, do not drive until you know what effect it has on your judgement, coordination, and reaction time. It has been proven that THC (a chemical in marijuana) slows reaction times, impairs cognitive performance, and makes it more difficult for you to keep a steady position in your lane.
Financially, a DUI could cost you $10,000 in attorney fees, fines and court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, car towing and storage, loss of your driver’s license and your vehicle, which could make it hard for you to get to work, which could result in lost wages and job loss.
If you are drug-impaired or alcohol impaired, pass your keys to a sober driver. It is never ok to drive while impaired by any substance. If you think a driver may be impaired, don’t get in the car. Take their keys away.
The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over nationwide campaign over the holidays runs from December 13, 2019 through January 1, 2020. REMEMBER - Drive High, Get A DUI.
Yours in Public Safety,
Sheriff Tom Reich