Police to Crack Down on Drinking and Driving

Caldwell and West Caldwell law enforcement officers will be cracking down on drunk drivers as part of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

The campaign begins Friday, August 17 and runs through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3.

During that period, officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and will have roving patrols looking for motorists who may be driving under the influence of alcohol.

The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving. Drivers can expect to see public education tools, including posters, banners and mobile video display signs. 

The campaign was launched nationally in 1999 and coincides with the final weeks of summer vacation, some of the busiest driving days of the year.

“Many people believe that after just a few drinks, they're safe to drive,” stated Gary Poeduebicky, Acting Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, in a release. “Even one drink can impair your judgment and reaction time, putting not only yourself, but everyone on the road, in danger.”

Alcohol-impaired fatalities accounted for 1 out of 5 motor vehicles deaths in New Jersey in 2010, according to the Division of Highway Traffic Safety.

The division provides grants to local law enforcement agencies around the state to run the two-week campaign.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2012 Crackdown Advice:

• If you plan to drink, designate a driver, someone who will not drink alcohol before going out.
• Take mass transit, a taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
• Spend the night where the activity is held.
• 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 you to your doorstep.