Lyon County Sheriff Brad Pope’s Message of the Week: August 23, 2024

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office regards driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription drugs as a serious crime. When a person makes a conscious choice to get behind the wheel of a vehicle while impaired, they become an extreme risk to this community. The DUI driver puts every other person on the roadway at risk of losing their lives. DUI is 100% preventable; it takes self-accountability to find other means of transportation when consuming alcohol or narcotics. If you pay attention to the weekly mugshots, you know that there are a lot of DUI arrests in Lyon County.

More people arrested for DUI ask for their mugshots to be removed more than any other crime. There is no moral or legal argument to remove the mugshot of a person arrested for DUI. The argument of “innocent until proven guilty” is a court standard, as well as a conviction standard. If a person is arrested for DUI, probable cause exists that the person charged committed the crime. In the case of DUI, probable cause is established through signs of impairment. Impairment is determined by a series of tests and detection methods.

Per NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

31% of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with BACs of .08 g/dL or higher). In 2021, there were 13,384 people killed in these preventable crashes. 56% of drivers involved in fatal crashes tested positive for at least one drug.

BEING A RESPONSIBLE DRIVER IS SIMPLE: IF YOU ARE DRINKING, DO NOT DRIVE.

Plan your safe ride home before you start the party, choose a non-drinking friend as a designated driver.
If someone you know has been drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel. Take their keys and help them arrange a sober ride home.
If you drink, do not drive for any reason. Call a taxi, a ride-hailing service, or a sober friend.
If you’re hosting a party where alcohol will be served, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
Always wear your seat belt — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.
If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement. Your actions could help save someone’s life.
Please see the attached chart regarding alcohol’s effects on the body.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office will resume saturation patrols, and is also exploring sites for DUI checkpoint operations in multiple locations throughout Lyon County.

Respectfully,

Sheriff Brad Pope