Local authorities reported over a dozen DUIs in Stone County over the Memorial Day weekend.
“It was definitely the worst Memorial Day weekend we’ve ever worked,” said Captain Kevin Hines, who serves as Stone County Sheriff’s DUI officer. “It seems to be a higher number of impaired drivers on the road than in the past.”
To combat an expected increase of drivers under the influence, officers with the SCSD and Wiggins Police Department worked with Mississippi Highway Patrolmen. They will keep extra officers on patrol through the end of Sunday, June 5.
Hines said he hopes to see fewer impaired drivers on the road this weekend compared to the last.
On Saturday, May 21, Hines reported one DUI at around 1 p.m.
Later that evening, Hines said 14 officers from the SCSD, WPD, and MHP operated a checkpoint near the intersection of Highway 49 and Highway 26.
The officers issued 12 DUIs in less than an hour.
“That was right in the middle of Wiggins,” Hines said. “We could pretty much book one DUI each.”
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety reported that 15,263 citations were issued statewide over the past weekend.
Officers made 375 arrests for impaired driving and issued 160 DUIs across the state.
“They were out trying to have a good time and party, and they decided to get behind the wheel,” Hines said.
Given the high numbers over the last weekend, Hines said he worries more people will do something similar if they do not prepare to be safe.
In the past 11 years, Hines has operated extra patrols during holidays when impaired drivers are likely to be on the roads.
“All officers are working together on these busier weekends,” Hines said. “I want people to be aware because it was really bad this past weekend.”
Mississippi is ranked the fifth-worst state for drunk driving based on a report that compiles the most recent data on federal arrests, population, and NHTSA reports.
In addition to license suspensions, a first-offense DUI conviction can land a Mississippi resident in jail for up 48 hours with a $250-$1,000 fine. A second conviction could mean up to one year with a $1,500 maximum fine. A third conviction means 1-5 years in jail with a $5,000 maximum fine.
Hines said no officer looks forward to writing a DUI ticket, but most would rather write a ticket and arrest someone for driving under the influence to prevent someone from being hurt or killed.
Hines advises those who intend to consume alcohol to make plans to get home safely and have a designated driver before taking the first sip.
