The campaign will take place from Aug. 19 through Sept. 5 in Cherry Hill and across New Jersey.
The Cherry Hill Police Department will be cracking down on drunk drivers the next few weeks as part of the 2016 Labor Day statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.
From Aug. 19 through Sept. 5, local and state law enforcement officials will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols, looking for motorists who may be driving while impaired by alcohol and drugs.
“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is a national campaign designed to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement backed up by public educational efforts. The campaign attempts to curtail impaired driving during busy times in the summer travel season, including the Labor Day holiday period.
“Many people believe that after a few drinks they’re still safe to drive,” said Gary Poedubicky, acting director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “Even one drink can impair your judgment and reaction time, putting not only yourself, but everyone on the road, in danger.”
“There is a zero tolerance message for this campaign,” Poedubicky added. “If drivers are caught operating their vehicle while impaired they will be arrested.”
Alcohol-impaired fatalities accounted for 27 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey in 2013.
Law enforcement agencies are offer in the following advice to residents:
· 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.
· 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.
