Trenton,
NJ – More than 2,000 drunk driving
arrests were made by 333 police agencies
throughout the State as a result of the
2007 year-end “Over the Limit, Under
Arrest” DUI crackdown, Division of
Highway Traffic Safety Director Pam Fischer
announced today.
The expanded statewide crackdown ran from
December 7, 2007 until January 2, 2008.
Overall participation in the effort increased
from 126 police agencies in 2006, while
the number of DUI arrests also increased
from 441.
Launched nationally in 1999, the year-end
“Over the Limit, Under Arrest”
crackdown is designed to combat drunk driving
during the holiday season when celebrating
often includes alcohol. Fischer noted that
82 municipalities received $5,000 grants
to run the year-end crackdown. However,
all police agencies received information
on the holiday initiative and were asked
to run checkpoints and saturation patrols
in an effort to further deter drunk driving.
“The
results of this crackdown clearly indicate
that law enforcement is sending a strong
message; if you drink and drive, you will
be arrested,” Director Fischer stated.
“Concentrated efforts such as this
one reinforce to all New Jerseyans that
drunk driving simply won’t be tolerated.”
While the effort is designed to keep drunk
drivers off the road, the program also focuses
attention on a broad array of other traffic
safety issues, including speeding, buckling
up and the proper use of child safety restraints.
As part of the 2007 year-end crackdown,
law enforcement agencies issued 4,407 seat
belt citations, 298 summonses for failure
to use a child restraint, and 12,316 speeding
citations.
“Any
aggressive driving behavior, from speeding
to running a red-light to impaired driving,
can result in potentially fatal consequences,”
Fischer added. “Through the Over the
Limit, Under Arrest program, we’re
able to maximize our efforts to not only
identify and stop drunk drivers, but all
motorists who blatantly ignore motor vehicle
laws and create hazardous situations on
New Jersey’s roadways.”
While
the “Over the Limit, Under Arrest”
crackdown is a concentrated approach to
stopping DUI, drunk driving enforcement
is a year-round effort, and motorists must
always be aware of the dangers associated
with this behavior, especially when alcohol
is part of a celebration or event.
“This
year, as the Giants head to the Super Bowl,
more New Jerseyans will be rooting for their
local team at house parties, local bars
and restaurants,” Fischer said. “Under
no circumstances should you get behind the
wheel if you are planning to drink alcohol
at a Super Bowl celebration.”
For individuals planning on attending a
Super Bowl Party:
- Designate
a sober driver before the party begins,
and give that person your car keys.
- Consider
using a taxi cab or car service, or ask
a sober family member or friend to either
come and get you, or, spend the night
where you are.
- For
individuals hosting a Super Bowl Party:
- Make
sure there’s ample food and non-alcoholic
beverages available.
- Stop
serving alcohol at the beginning of the
third quarter of the game. Instead, offer
guests coffee and dessert.
- Be
sure that all guests have designated their
drivers in advance, or help to arrange
ride-sharing with sober drivers.
- Have
the phone numbers of local cab companies
available, and always take the keys away
from anyone who may be thinking of driving
while impaired.
Additional
information on the “Over the Limit,
Under Arrest” year-end crackdown,
including municipal arrest data, as well
as other highway safety programs, is available
on the Division’s web site, www.njsaferoads.com.
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