‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Crackdown
If you’re enjoying the holidays with a drink, The Ventura Police Departmenthas a message for you:Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Due to the increase in drunk-driving-related fatalities around the holidays each year, law enforcement agencies across America will be actively searching for and arresting drunk drivers from December 18 to January 3. If you are unlucky enough to get into an accident with someone who has consumed alcohol then you should look intolaw firms like these car accident lawyers Abbotsford to see if you can get compensation.
As part of the nationalDrive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign period; police, sheriff and the CHP will be deploying DUI Checkpoints and DUI Saturation Patrols during the upcoming 17 day DUI Enforcement Campaign throughout the region. Ventura PDs conducting a DUI Checkpoint on Saturday December 19, 2016.
There are 10,000 reasons to crackdown: in 2013, 10,076 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver. In December 2013 alone there were 733 people killed in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Twenty-three of those deaths occurred on Christmas Day. California was witnessed to 98 deaths and another 1,852 injured in alcohol involved collisions in December 2013. If someone is a victim of a drunk driving accident then their whole world for the next few months will just be wrapped up in legal disputes and trying to recover from their injuries. That whole process can be easily prevented if people stopped driving after drinking.
“It’s time for all drivers to get the message,” said Chief Ken Corney. “Drunk driving is a choice you make, and when you make that choice, people get hurt or die. That’s why we’re joining with law enforcement nationwide to share the message: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” “The safest way to get home,” Chief Corney said, “is to drive sober or catch a ride with a sober designated driver.”
Recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol. Everyone should be mindful that if you’re taking medication – whether prescription or over-the-counter – drinking even small amounts of alcohol can greatly intensify the impairment affects.
Law Enforcement emphasizes the preventable nature of drunk driving reminding everyone that all it takes is a little planning ahead. Designate a sober driver or call a cab. Depending on which country you are in, the punishments for drink driving can be extreme and they’re not worth risking your freedom for. For example, if you get caught drink driving in the UAE, consequences may include a hefty fine, jail sentence and disqualified license. So, it’s better for everyone if you just nominate a designated driver in UAE or hire a chauffeur service to ferry you around. But whatever you choose, don’t drink and drive. The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP (Designated Driver VIP) mobile app is now available for free download on iOS and Android devices. Launched last year, the new DDVIP app offers enhanced features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to search all participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Users will be offered free incentives at each bar to celebrate their life saving role. They can stay up-to-date with the latest from DDVIP and see what other users are saying via its social tab. Also through the app, for those who want to imbibe but also make it a point to plan ahead, users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen.
Ventura PD reminds everyone to follow these simple tips to stay safe:
- Plan a safe way to get home before you attend the party. Alcohol impairs judgment, as well as reaction time. If you’re impaired you’re more likely to choose to drive drunk.
- Designate a sober driver; take public transportation, a car service, or a call a sober friend of family member to get home.
- Walking while impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.
- Use your community’s sober ride program.
- If you see someone you think is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them get home safely.
If you’re caught drinking and driving you could face jail time, fines, loss of driver’s license, towing fees, and other DUI expenses, totaling $10,000 on average. That’s not a small price, and that doesn’t even count the heftier price you could pay: the price of your life or someone else’s. If you find yourself facing the consquences of a DUI or a DWI, you might be interested in someone like this philadelphia criminal lawyer who might be able to help you to deal with the outcome.
In addition to reminding all drivers to drive sober, Chief Corney is calling on everyone to be alert and ‘Report Drunk Drivers – Call 911! If you see a dangerous driver call immediately! If someone you know is about to drive after drinking, take their keys and help them get home safely. “We’ve got to work together to make our roads safer thi
s December and year-round,” he said.
Remember, driving after drinking should never be an option. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
Funding for this holiday campaign is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
