New Hampshire Safety Officials And Law Enforcement Team Up To Target Impaired Drivers

CONCORD, NH — Summer is not here yet, but safety officials in New Hampshire are increasing enforcement of impaired driving beginning Thursday.

The effort, which will continue until fall, will bring more than 90 law enforcement agencies together in a coordinated effort to target drivers that are drunk or high. The stepped-up enforcement comes as state officials recognized that 118 people were killed in crashes in 2021, with alcohol or drugs connected to 69 percent of those deaths. During the last seven years, 822 people have died in crashes, with 62 percent having drugs or alcohol connected to them.

“One wrong decision could have lifelong consequences for you and your loved ones,” New Hampshire State Police Lt. Christopher Storm said. “Drivers should be aware of the legal, financial, and emotional costs that come with a DWI conviction. We encourage drivers to plan for a night out and consider alternative options to get home safely, such as using a designated driver, rideshare apps, or public transportation.”

The patrols and enforcement will be funded via grants from the New Hampshire Office of Highway Safety.

Unlike past drunken driving dragnets or saturation patrols, the New Hampshire Liquor Commission’s Division of Enforcement and Licensing will also participate in the effort.

Chief Mark Armaganian of the New Hampshire Liquor Commission, a former state trooper, said investigators would “conduct premise inspections,” too, in an effort to “complement this initiative.” He hoped to “educate our licensees about the dangers of overservice, and in turn, deter and prevent intoxicated drivers from getting on the road.”

Officials said the lives of innocent passengers and other drivers were regularly claimed by those who operate impaired. However, the total number of lives impacted by alcohol and-or drug-related deadly crashes was impossible to measure — many family members, friends, and other grieving loved ones who were often left behind.

“New Hampshire has some of the most aggressive laws in the country to fight impaired drivers,” Chief Adam Marsh of the Gorham Police Department added, “and the law enforcement community will use these tools to the fullest extent.”

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