Police Warn July 4th Motorists To 'Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over'

To crack down on drunk driving over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Anne Arundel County law enforcement will be out in full force, aggressively targeting those who put lives in danger.

“The Anne Arundel County Police Department is ramping up their enforcement to make our roads safer this Fourth of July,” said Anne Arundel County Chief of Police Timothy Altomare. “For everyone’s sake, don’t drink and drive or you will be arrested. The ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign means zero tolerance for drunk driving—no excuses.”

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 10,076 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in the United States in 2013—representing almost a third of all crash fatalities. By comparison, during the July Fourth period that year, 39 percent of all crash fatalities involved alcohol-impaired drivers.

In every state, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. In fatal crashes during the July Fourth period in 2013, more than one-fifth (21%) of involved drivers or motorcycle operators had BACs of .15 or higher—almost twice the legal limit.

Law enforcement says anyone caught driving drunk will be arrested. Besides the risk of a crash, driving impaired can have other consequences. A DUI arrest can mean time in jail, loss of your license, and steep financial expenses. The average DUI costs about $10,000.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department offers these tips to prevent drunk driving:

• Plan a safe way home before the fun begins.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver.
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, call the Anne Arundel County Police Department.
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going.

For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/.