Louisiana State Police Troop I participates in “No Refusal” checkpoint, patrol for New Year’s Week

Louisiana State Police Troop I reminds everyone to make sure safety and sober driving is the number one priority this New Years. Louisiana State Police Troop I will be implementing the DWI “No Refusal” checkpoints this New Year’s week, news release stated.
“No Refusal” will begin on today in Lafayette Parish and will continue through the New Year’s holiday in the Troop I area.
Crashes involving serious injuries and fatalities historically are attributed to impaired drivers during holiday weekends. Holidays are a time for fun and sometimes can lead to consuming substances that cause impaired driving. This New Year’s, enjoy the festivities and help make this a safe holiday. Troop I troopers will be aggressively patrolling the highways this entire holiday week to ensure the safety of everyone as they travel to their destinations, the news release stated.
For those individuals suspected of impaired driving and refuse to submit to a chemical test, a search warrant for a blood and/or urine sample will be submitted to a judge for review. If the probable cause exists, the judge could sign the warrant requiring the driver to submit to the test.
The reason for implementing the “No Refusal” during the New Year’s holiday is based on the nationwide trend during certain holiday periods when alcohol consumption increases, such as Memorial Day, July 4th, Mardi Gras and Labor Day. This has been addressed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration by educating the public about the dangers of impaired driving, increased patrols and checkpoint programs. The loss of life associated with impaired drivers causes a tremendous amount of grief to survivors for the remainder of their lives.
To report possible impaired drivers or road hazards, citizens are urged to call *LSP (*577) from their cellular phones.