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Trenton
– Drunk drivers will face statewide
crackdowns by police officers as part of
the annual summer “Over the Limit,
Under Arrest” campaign, Attorney General
Paula T. Dow and Division of Highway Traffic
Safety Acting Director Gary Poedubicky announced
today.
The
crackdowns will run throughout New Jersey
from August 19 to September 5 and police
will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety
checkpoints, looking for motorists who may
be driving while intoxicated.
“Any
time you drink and drive, you are putting
yourself, your family and the public at
large in great danger. There is just no
excuse to drink and drive,” Dow said.
“Having just one drink can impair
your judgment and slow your reaction time,
which can lead to disastrous consequences.”
In
2010, there were 168 fatalities directly
attributed to impaired driving in the state,
accounting for 30% of the 556 total crash
fatalities. The state’s ultimate goal
is zeroing out impaired driving, Dow said.
“Over
The Limit, Under Arrest” is a concentrated
national effort that helps raise awareness
about the dangers of drunk driving through
high-visibility enforcement and public education.
The initiative was launched in 1999 as a
program aimed at combating drunk driving
during the summer months – one of
the busiest travel times of the year.
“The
temptation to drink and drive may be there
during the summer or on holidays,”
Poedubicky said. “But police will
be out there to arrest the irresponsible
motorists who are willing to indulge that
temptation to drive over the limit.”
The
Division of Highway Traffic Safety will
provide federal grants of $4,400 to 168
law enforcement agencies throughout the
state to run the campaigns. In the summer
of 2010, “Over The Limit, Under Arrest”
crackdowns resulted in 1,707 DWI arrests,
up from 1,528 in 2009. In addition, participating
police agencies issued 10,106 and 6,109
speeding and seat belt summonses, respectively.
The
Division of Highway Traffic Safety offers
the following advice to ensure a safe summer
travel season for those who choose to drink
alcohol this summer:
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Take mass transit, a taxi or ask a sober
friend to drive you home.
-
Spend the night rather than get behind
the wheel.
-
Report impaired drivers to law enforcement.
In New Jersey, drivers may dial #77 to
report a drunk or aggressive driver.
- Always
buckle up, every ride, regardless of your
seating position in the vehicle. It’s
your best defense against an impaired
driver.
- If
you’re intoxicated and traveling
on foot, the safest way to get home is
to take a cab or have a sober friend or
family member drive or escort you to your
doorstep.
A
list of police agencies receiving mobilization
grants is available on the Division’s
web site, at www.nj.gov/oag/hts/downloads/OTLUA_08-2011_Grant_Recipients.pdf.
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