Kansas Police Agencies Launch Labor Day DUI Crackdown

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Police Department will join law enforcement agencies across Kansas in a coordinated effort to crack down on impaired drivers during the Labor Day holiday weekend.

The "You Drink, You Drive, You Lose" campaign begins Friday, Aug. 16, and runs through Labor Day, Sept. 1, targeting drivers under the influence of alcohol and other substances.

"Driving after consuming alcohol or any other potentially impairing substance is a choice you make. If you drink, you drive, you will lose. Drive sober or get pulled over," the Hutchinson Police Department said in a social media post Thursday.

The enforcement effort comes as Kansas officials cite concerning statistics about impaired driving fatalities. According to preliminary 2024 data referenced by police, 83 people died and more than 1,100 people were injured in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers in Kansas.

The statewide initiative is coordinated with the Kansas Department of Transportation as part of ongoing efforts to reduce traffic fatalities during high-travel periods.

Labor Day weekend traditionally marks one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with increased traffic on highways and local roads as families take end-of-summer trips.

The Hutchinson Police Department, located at 210 W. 1st Ave., encourages residents to plan alternative transportation if they intend to consume alcohol. The department can be reached at 620-694-2816.

The enforcement campaign emphasizes both alcohol and drug impairment, reflecting growing concerns about drivers operating vehicles under the influence of various substances beyond alcohol.

Police agencies will increase patrols and sobriety checkpoints during the enforcement period as part of the coordinated effort to remove impaired drivers from Kansas roads.