Troop C urges safety this July 4th holiday

Louisiana State Police Troop C reminds everyone to make sure safety is the number one thought this July 4th weekend. Louisiana State Police Troop C, Terrebonne, Lafourche, Assumption, and St. James District Attorney’s Offices, and other Local Law Enforcement agencies will be implementing the “No Refusal” July 4th holiday.

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 July 4th holiday, enjoy the festivities and help make this a safe holiday. Troop C troopers will be out this entire July 4th holiday to ensure the safety of everyone as they travel to their destinations. For those individuals suspected of impaired driving and who refuse to submit to a chemical test, a search warrant for a blood and or urine sample will be obtained.

The reason for implementing the “No Refusal” July 4th Holiday is based on the nationwide trend during certain holiday periods when alcohol consumption increases, such as Memorial Day, July Fourth, Mardi Gras, Labor Day, etc. This has been addressed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and others in both advertising, public information campaigns, in high intensity patrol, 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 combat this trend and reduce the number of injuries and fatalities caused by impaired drivers, Troop C and other law enforcement agencies will implement the “No Refusal” initiative to ensure that every person arrested for DWI will submit to a test.