The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department is cracking down on drunk drivers, along with motorists and passengers not wearing seat belts. Starting tomorrow and continuing through December 4, officers will be conducting sobriety patrols and checkpoints, as well as seat belt patrols around the clock.
It’s part of a statewide effort to keep the roads safe during the Thanksgiving travel period. Eight Marshall County officers will work overtime as part of the effort, thanks to federal funding allocated by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Traffic Safety Division.
According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, there were 533 alcohol-related crashes last November in Indiana, resulting in seven deaths. Another 16 people died that month, following crashes involving a driver or passenger not wearing a seat belt. In a press release, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department also points out that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children between the ages of eight and 15.
