ACC Police Officers Will be Cracking Down on Drunk Drivers

This holiday season Athens-Clarke County police officers will be out in force cracking down on drunk drivers throughout the Athens area with aggressive Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement. From December 13 through January 1, state and local law enforcement will be watching for drunk drivers to help keep roads safe for holiday travelers.
 
The Police Department is giving fair warning to all partygoers. Officers will be making a lot of traffic stops and initiating sobriety checkpoints during this highly visible enforcement period. If they suspect anyone is driving while intoxicated, officers will show zero tolerance for drunk driving.

Unfortunately, the excitement and celebrations of the holiday season can lead to terrible decisions and serious legal consequences. Data shows that the holiday season is a particularly deadly time due to the increased number of drunk drivers on the roads.
 
Nationally, in the months of December for 2007 through 2011 there were 4,169 people killed in traffic accidents that involved drivers with blood alcohol concentrations of .08 grams per deciliter or higher. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 32,367 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic accidents across the nation in 2011 and 31 percent (9,878) of those fatalities occurred in drunk driving related accidents.

“The December holiday season is called the ‘most wonderful time of the year,’ and we are going to keep our roads safe for travelers heading to visit friends and family as well as local citizens staying home. We will show zero tolerance for drunk drivers on the roadways. If you choose to drive drunk, we will see you, we will stop you, and you will be arrested,” said Lieutenant Don Eckert of the ACCPD Traffic Unit.

Drunk drivers often face jail time, the loss of their driver licenses, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs, car towing and repairs, to lost wages due to time off from work. Even worse, a drunk driver can cause a traffic accident that claims someone’s life or their own.
Please follow these tips to keep the holidays safe and happy:

• Even one drink can impair your judgment and increase the risk of getting arrested for driving drunk - or worse, the risk of having a traffic accident while driving.
• If you will be drinking, do not plan on driving. Plan ahead - designate a sober driver before the party begins.
• If you have been drinking, do not drive. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend/family member, or use public transportation.
• Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement agency. Your actions may save someone’s life - inaction could cost a life.
Remember, it is never safe to drink and drive: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. For more information, click here.