The Kansas Highway Patrol has announced it will join a multi-state enforcement effort from Friday, April 20, through Sunday, April 22.
The high-visibility enforcement will target drug and alcohol-impaired driving, according to a news release from the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma also are joining in the enforcement effort.
According to the news release, there were 462 fatalities on the roadways in Kansas last year, with 20 percent of them involving a drug-impaired driver.
The news release stated that the Journal of American Medical Association cited a 12 percent increase in the relative risk of a fatal crash after 4:20 p.m. on April 20, compared to the same time intervals on other days.
The highway patrol’s Drug Recognition Experts and Breath Alcohol Unit will assist with enforcement across the state. Citations may be issued to individuals who refuse to obey the laws, including impaired driving, speeding and seat belt violations, and other violations. For those who refuse to submit to a blood test, a search warrant may be obtained for their blood, according to the KHP news release.