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 </figure>HPDBeginning Dec. 26 and continuing through Jan. 3, the Hays 
Police Department will join many other police agencies across the state,
 including the Kansas Highway Patrol, in the Taking Down DUI&nbsp;traffic enforcement campaign, sponsored by the Kansas Department of Transportation. &nbsp;The
 winter holidays are upon us, but this winter holiday is different. We 
are in the middle of a COVID pandemic. While we are all aware of the 
effects COVID has had on us, it has had a dramatic and devastating 
effect on our roads as well.Marijuana, opioid, and alcohol use 
have increased substantially in general during the pandemic, but also 
with motor vehicle drivers. These impairing substances are now 
identified in nearly 25% of serious and fatal crashes. Remember, these 
crashes do not just affect the impaired driver — these crashes involve 
others that share the vehicle and road with us — passengers, other 
motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Impaired driving crashes are 
completely preventable.According to KDOT, in comparison with 
other holidays, the New Year’s Holiday period outranks most of the other
 holidays in number of crashes in which at least one of the drivers is 
impaired by alcohol and/or other drugs. Your choice to drive or to take 
other safe transportation rests solely with you.&nbsp;A DUI will 
change your life forever. A DUI arrest and conviction results in jail 
time, the suspension or permanent revocation of driver’s license, 
thousands of dollars for fines, bail, court costs, attorney fees and 
increased insurance costs.“Keep in mind that if you are going to 
be using ANY impairing substance – don’t even consider driving. Line up a
 ride with a sober acquaintance or other safe transportation BEFORE you 
go out. On the drive to zero, you are in the driver’s seat.”

Hays PD joins 'Taking Down DUI' campaign