The Express-Star
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An intensive crackdown on impaired driving will be enforced Aug. 20 through Sept. 6, Major Elip Moore of the Chickasha Police Department said.
Moore recently issued a press release noting that the CPD will join other law enforcement agencies throughout the country in the August/Labor Day campaign known by its tagline, "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest."
In 2008 alone, nearly 12,000 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit, according to the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The age group with the highest percentage of alcohol impaired drivers in fatal crashes is young people age 21-24.
"All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life. Because we're committed to ending the carnage, we're intensifying enforcement during the crackdown. We'll be especially vigilant during high-risk nighttime hours when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads," Moore said.
In every state, as well as the District of Columbia, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher. About 10,000 police agencies will participate in this year's mid-August through Labor Day crackdown, including law enforcement officers representing every state, the District of Columbia and many U.S. cities and towns.
According to the latest data, 32 percent of fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involve a driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 g/dL or above – an average of one fatality every 45 minutes.
Moore said the CPD officers will be aggressively looking for all impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone they find driving while impaired – regardless of age, vehicle type or time of day.
"Our message is simple and unwavering. If we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions," Moore said.
"Even if you beat the odds and walk away from an impaired driving crash alive, motorists should be aware that the consequences of driving while impaired can still virtually destroy your life."
Violators often face jail time, loss of their driver licenses or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks, Moore said.
"Their insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation. Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences. So don't take the chance. Remember, if you are over the limit, you're under arrest," he said.
The national campaign crackdown is led by the NHTSA and combines high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity.
For more information on the crackdown, visit the "High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Headquarters" at www.StopImpairedDriving.org.
