The Downbeach towns of Ventnor and Longport will be participating in the Division of Highway Traffic Safety’s annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which aims to save lives by combating impaired driving.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety announced grant funding to mobilize law enforcement agencies throughout the state to conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints and take alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers off the roadways.
The campaign, which begins today and runs through Labor Day on Sept. 2, is part of a nationwide effort to reduce crash risks and raise awareness about impaired driving during the final stretch of the summer season. To assist with New Jersey’s enforcement efforts, HTS has awarded $540,680 in grant funding to 110 police agencies across the state to fund enhanced patrols and high-visibility sobriety checkpoints during this busy and often dangerous time.
Both Ventnor and Longport received $2,100 to fund special patrols and cover overtime for police officers.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s most recent data, 13,524 individuals died in drunk-driving crashes in 2022 in the United States – roughly 37 each day, equivalent to one life lost every 39 minutes.
For those arrested for impaired driving, the legal repercussions could include fines of up to $10,000. Impaired drivers who are involved in a crash could be sentenced to prison and be left with a permanent criminal record.
“Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not a mistake. It’s a crime that puts everyone on the road at risk,” Patkin said. “The consequences are devastating and far-reaching – but preventable through responsible behavior and vigilant law enforcement.”
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.NJSafeRoads.com.
Copyright Access Network 2024
