Watertown Police will be Looking for Drunken Drivers this Holiday Season

The following information was released by the Watertown Police Department:

As you celebrate the holiday season enjoying traditions, food, family and fun, be reminded that Watertown Police Department will be out in force from Dec. 16 to Jan. 2 to protect the Commonwealth’s citizens by arresting anyone caught behind the wheel operating under the influence. The Watertown Police Department will join up to 180 local law enforcement agencies and the Mass. State Police to run extra patrols through the New Year as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization, funded by a federal grant administered through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS-HSD).

“The message is simple: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Drinking alcohol and driving do not mix. If you plan to consume alcohol, you should also plan not to get behind the wheel of a vehicle or ride a motorcycle,” said Chief Edward Deveau. “Unfortunately, millions of drivers on America’s highways still think they are invincible, and they choose to jeopardize their safety and the safety of others on our roads.”

“There is no holiday cheer behind the bars of a jail cell,” Chief Deveau said. “Don’t let your 2011 holiday season end in an arrest or worse, death. Remember, whether you’ve had way too many or just one too many, it’s not worth the risk.”

In 2010 in Massachusetts, 59 people were killed in crashes that involved drivers with blood alcohol concentrations of .08 grams per deciliter or higher.

EOPSS-HSD recommends these tips for a safe holiday season:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home;
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact law enforcement;
• And remember, Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over. If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get home safely.

For more information, please visit www.mass.gov/highwaysafety.