Missouri Highway Patrol sees DWI arrests increase in 2024

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is placing an increased focus on driving down the number of DWI incidents statewide in 2025.

According to preliminary data, more than 4,800 crashes in Missouri in 2024 were alcohol and drug-related.

Locally, the Missouri Highway Patrol's Troop H reported a 23% increase in DWI arrests in 2024. In 2023, 293 DWI arrests were made in Troop H, with that number rising to 371 in 2024.

"I'm not certain if it has anything to do with marijuana legalization," said Sgt. Shane Hux with the Missouri Highway Patrol. "But the number of impaired drivers on the roadways is a concern for us, with 30% of accidents contributing to alcohol impairment."

Alcohol and drugs contributed to 164 fatalities statewide in 2024 with four of those fatalities in the Troop H region.

The total number of traffic fatalities statewide decreased by 4% to 954 in 2024, with fatal accidents in Troop H decreasing by 18% to 34 people killed in crashes.

"Some of our statistics, especially this early in the year, may not have caught up with us just yet," Hux said. "Any downward trend that we see is always a plus. We're still not excited about those numbers because that's too many people that are getting killed in traffic crashes here in the state of Missouri."

Hux said in addition to impaired driving, speed and distracted driving are leading causes of crashes.

With Missouri's Hands-Free Law in full effect, troopers hope to see fewer drivers not keeping their eyes on the roadways.

"We don't want the penalty of the law to have anything to do with that. We want people to do the right thing and obey the law," Hux said. "People's lives are at risk every time you operate a motor vehicle without 100% of your attention being devoted to driving."