Through Jan. 1, the department will have more patrols with officers on overtime to combat those who drive drunk through Evesham Township.
As with many other law enforcement agencies across the state this holiday season, the Evesham Township Police Department will be cracking down on drunk driving through Jan. 1 as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” initiative.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the most recently available statistics show drunken driving crashes resulted in 840 deaths in December 2015, with fatal crashes almost four times higher at night than day.
With a $5,500 grant from the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety, Evesham police are set to ramp up patrols this holiday season to catch those who drive drunk through Evesham Township.
“It’s absolutely one of our biggest priorities,” Police Lt. Joseph Friel said. “Not only do we have officers on overtime with support from the state’s ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ crackdown, but we also supplement our own patrols as well. Statically, DUIs increase during the holidays.”
According to the ETPD, in addition to putting the lives of others and themselves at risk, drunk drivers also face the consequences that can follow a DUI arrest.
ETPD officials say the average DUI arrest can cost a driver $10,000 as they face jail time, the loss their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, fines, car repairs and time lost from being unable to attend work.
The ETPD is also reminding residents who plan to drink at bars and restaurants in Evesham or Voorhees to take advantage of the Evesham Saving Lives Program.
Instituted in September 2015, the program allows Evesham Township residents who drink at establishments in Evesham or Voorhees to request a ride to their residence in town free of charge between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. by using private transportation service Uber.
Through the geo-location technology of smartphones, those who use their normal Uber app to request a ride at an Evesham or Voorhees establishment will also have the app present an option for the Saving Lives Program.
“We just hope people take advantage of that program, which is absolutely free for people to utilize,” Friel said.
In addition to having Evesham residents utilize the Evesham Saving Lives Program, the ETPD has also released the following list of directives so residents can avoid drunk driving altogether and help prevent it:
• Set aside time to plan a safe way home before any fun begins.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver to shuttle those who will be drinking.
• If a drunk driver is believed to have been spotted on the road, don’t hesitate to report the incident to the ETPD or 911.
• If need be, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to ensure getting home safely.
• If someone is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to safely get to where they are going.
The ETPD reminds residents that whether they’ve had “way too many or just one too many,” do not risk driving while impaired. If a law enforcement officer pulls over a driver for drunk driving, police say they will be arrested.
