Police prepare effort to curb drunken driving
Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2008
Fayetteville police and Washington County deputies will join agencies across the country in support of a crackdown on impaired driving Friday through Sept. 1.
Nationally, more than $ 50 million will be spent on this year's campaign," Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest."
In 2006, nearly 13, 500 people died as a result of impaired driving, according to the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Among those who died, 306 were younger than 15.
"All too often, innocent law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life," Fayetteville police Sgt. Bill Phelan said in a press release. "Because we're committed to ending the carnage, we're intensifying enforcement during the crackdown. We'll be especially vigilant during high-risk nighttime hours when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads."
Across the country, more than $ 30 million in state and federal funds will be spent in support of the high-visibility crackdown through television and radio ads targeted toward young male drivers, who are the most common perpetrators of impaired driving. Another $ 20 million will be spent on extra police enforcement, including saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints.
In every U. S. state and Washington, D. C., it is illegal to drive with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0. 08 grams per deciliter or higher. More than 10, 000 police agencies will participate in this year's mid-August through Labor Day crackdown, including law enforcement officers representing every state, Washington, D. C., and many U. S. cities.
According to the latest data, 32 percent of vehicle fatalities involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood-alcohol concentration of at least 0. 08.
Phelan said officers plan to aggressively seek and arrest all impaired drivers during the crackdown, regardless of age, vehicle type or time of day.
Those arrested for impaired driving offenses can face jail time, loss of their driver's license or being required to use an ignition interlock in their vehicle. In addition to large fines, impaired driving offenses often result in higher insurance rates. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work and the potential loss of job or future career prospects.
"Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences," Phelan said in the release. "So don't take the chance. Remember, if you are over the limit, you're under arrest."
For more information on the crackdown, go online to www. stopimpaireddriving. org. To report drunken driving in Fayetteville, contact the Police Department at 571-3555.
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