Checkpoint and Patrols Planned in Cherokee County

Oklahoma Department of Public Safety sent this bulletin at 06/27/2018 10:30 AM CDT

Checkpoint and Patrols Planned in Cherokee County

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is teaming up with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, Tahlequah Police Department, Cherokee Nation Marshals Service, and the Grand River Damn Authority Police to make sure everyone goes home safe this weekend.

These agencies will set up a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday, June 30 from 5 PM until 7 PM. There will also be high-visibility patrols in the area during this time and throughout the weekend.

"We're not out to keep people from having fun," said Cherokee County Undersheriff Jason Chennault. "We're just trying to make sure that everyone is staying safe and protect those who are having fun."

FOR RELEASE

June 27, 2018

MEDIA CONTACT

Trooper Zach Woods
Zachary.Woods@dps.ok.gov
(405) 990-7364

There is absolutely no reason for impaired driving collisions to happen. If you are drinking, have a plan to get home safe.

According to data from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, there were 19 fatal or injury crashes in Cherokee County in 2016. This is a slight decrease from 2015 when there were 21 fatal or injury crashes in the county.

“As always, the Grand River Dam Authority would like to remind all enjoying their time on Grand Lake, Lake Hudson or the Illinois River to boat safe, boat smart and boat sober,” said Dan Sullivan, Grand River Dam Authority President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our police officers are there to protect and serve, and their goal is for everyone to return home safely after a fun day on the water.”

Also happening during this time is "Operation Dry Water", a nation-wide enforcement event focused on impaired boating and driving. Troopers from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol's Marine Enforcement Division will also be out on area lakes looking for impaired boaters.

Everyone is highly encouraged to find a safe ride by calling a sober driver, using a cab, Uber, Lyft or any other ride-share service. Better yet, have a designated driver. Have fun and enjoy life, but do not, under any circumstances, drive while impaired by alcohol or any other substance.

The media is invited to attend this checkpoint to help us raise awareness about the impaired driving problem in Oklahoma. Interviews with members of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol will be available. To coordinate times, locations, and interviews, please email zachary.woods@dps.ok.gov.

The ENDUI enforcement team coordinates multi-jurisdictional events on a regular basis, including sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols. These efforts are needed to impact Oklahoma’s impaired driving problem across the state. The locations of these activities are driven by data from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office and by local request.

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The ENDUI Oklahoma program is a program of the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office and is funded through impaired driving grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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