>> See list below of YDYDYL Grantees - 2006 Summer Crackdown

(Upper Pittsgrove Township) - As law enforcement in New Jersey gets ready for the second full week of the ‘You Drink and Drive. You Lose’ (YDYDYL) crackdown, a press conference was held this morning in Salem County to call renewed attention to the mobilization, and its critical importance to residents of the state. Of 373 police agencies in the Garden State, 311 are participating in the campaign with 62 departments using Division grants (grantees list included below).

“With this kind of law enforcement involvement, violators are more likely than ever to be pulled over and arrested for DWI”, said Division Director Roberto Rodriguez. “With the national trend in DWI fatalities edging downward, New Jersey’s alcohol-related fatalities slightly increased last year. This is something we cannot and will not tolerate. Impaired driving is a crime and is being strongly dealt with by the Division through education and enforcement.

In 2005 there were 254 alcohol-related fatalities in New Jersey, or 34 percent of all 748 traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That compares to 31 percent in 2004. Last year, law enforcement made 1,583 DWI arrests among the 50,665 summonses issued for all moving and non-moving violations during the 2005 YDYDYL summer campaign.

Closely linked with ‘YDYDYL’ is the Hero Campaign for Designated Drivers and John’s Law. In July of 2000, Ensign John R. Elliott and his girlfriend were traveling home to Egg Harbor Township from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. A drunk driver who had been arrested just three hours earlier, crossed the center line and struck Elliot’s car head on. Both John Elliott and the offending driver lost their lives. This led to the creation of the Hero Campaign for Designated Drivers by William Elliott, John’s father. He was also a force behind John’s Law, requiring police to impound a DWI violator’s vehicle for up to 12-hours.

A re-dedication of Ensign John Elliot’s Memorial was held at this morning’s event. The Memorial, on Route 40 in Upper Pittsgrove Township in Salem County, marks the spot where the fatal crash occurred. It had been previously damaged and is now completely restored.

The summer DWI crackdown began on August 18th and will continue through Labor Day, September 4th. Remember, If You Drink and Drive. You Lose.

# # #

List of YDYDYL Grantees - 2006 Summer Crackdown

• Bergen:
  Carlstadt PD
  E. Rutherford PD
  N. Arlington PD
  Ridgefield Park PD
  Ridgewood PD
• Burlington:
  Bordentown Twp PD
  Burlington City PD
  Mt. Holly PD
  Mt. Laurel PD
  Riverside PD
  Westampton PD
• Camden:
  Clementon PD
  Dela. River Port Authority
  Gloucester City PD
  Merchantville PD
  Mt. Ephriam PD
  Pennsauken PD
  Somerdale PD
  Stratford PD
• Cape May:
  Lower Twp PD
  Middle Twp PD
  N. Wildwood PD
• Cumberland:
  Bridgeton PD
  Millville PD
  Vineland City PD
• Essex:
  Bloomfield PD
  Caldwell PD
• Hunterdon:
  Clinton Twp PD
• Mercer:
  Hamilton PD
  Trenton PD
• Middlesex:
  Metuchen PD
  Milltown PD
  Rumson PD
• Monmouth:
  Aberdeen PD
  Allenhurst PD
  Brielle PD
  Oceanport PD
• Morris:
  Boonton Twp PD
  Hanover PD
  Long Hill PD
  Netcong PD
  Pequannock PD
  Riverdale PD
  Washington Twp PD
• Ocean:
  Harvey Cedars PD
  O.C. Prosecutor
  Ocean Gate PD
• Passaic:
  Bloomingdale PD
  N. Haledon PD
  Pompton Lakes PD
  W. Paterson PD
• Somerset:
  Franklin Twp PD
  Hillsborough PD
  Montgomery PD
• Sussex:
  Franklin Boro PD
  Hardyston PD
  Hopatcong PD
• Union:
  Berkeley Hts PD
  Garwood PD
  Roselle PD
  Union Twp PD