Olathe drivers heading into the Labor Day holiday weekend will see more officers watching for impaired motorists on local roads through Sept. 7.

The Olathe Police Department announced Aug. 21 that it is joining the statewide "You Drink. You Drive. You Lose." enforcement campaign, which runs from Aug. 23 through Sept. 7. The effort specifically targets drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs and is funded by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grant administered through the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Numerous other Kansas police agencies are participating in the same campaign, according to the city's announcement.

The stakes are real. Preliminary 2025 Kansas data from KDOT shows an estimated 66 people were killed and more than 950 were injured in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. Drug-related crashes claimed an additional 51 lives and injured 240 people statewide, according to the Salina Post.

KDOT Behavioral Safety Manager Gary Herman warned in an Aug. 19 announcement that even a small amount of alcohol can impair a driver's ability, and that impaired driving carries life-changing consequences for everyone sharing the road.

The Kansas Highway Patrol's own numbers underscore the trend. During the 2025 Labor Day weekend, KHP troopers made 22 DUI arrests statewide, up from 12 in 2024 and 16 in 2023. KHP also reported one fatal DUI-related crash involving two fatalities over that holiday period.

When Spring Hill joined the same campaign in August 2025, Police Chief Jim Sutterby urged residents to plan ahead. "Think about your family, your friends, your coworkers, and neighbors," Sutterby said in the department's announcement. "Plan ahead to ensure you have a sober driver and a safe way home."

KDOT recommends designating a sober driver or using a rideshare service, never letting an impaired person get behind the wheel, and calling local law enforcement to report a suspected impaired driver. Sergeant John Moncayo is the Olathe Police contact for the campaign and can be reached at (913) 971-6950. The department's non-emergency line is (913) 782-0720.

Stepped-up patrols end after Labor Day, Sept. 7.