Somerset County Cops To Stop Drunk Drivers On Super Bowl Sunday

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Heading out to a Super Bowl celebration? Make sure to designate a driver or call a ride this Sunday as Somerset County police will be increasing patrols to crack down on impaired and distracted drivers.

"The best offense is a good defense and I plan to put my best team on the road to keep our community safe," said Somerset County Sheriff Darrin J. Russo.

The Sheriff’s Office DWI Enforcement Team will be patrolling the roads of Somerset County.

"We are encouraging safe and sober driving during and after the Super Bowl game," Russo said. "Many people will be attending parties with their friends at their homes or going to local bars or restaurants to watch the Super Bowl. If you plan to have alcoholic drinks, make sure you have a good plan to ensure a safe return trip. That starts with designating a driver who will not be drinking or the use of an Uber driver. By planning ahead, you can protect yourself, your family, friends and other drivers from tragic loss of life on the road."

In 2018, there were 10,511 people killed in these preventable crashes. In fact, on average over the 10-year period from 2009-2018, more than 10,000 people died every year in drunk-driving crashes, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

It is illegal to drive with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher, yet one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 50 minutes in the United States in 2018.

Drunk drivers face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates and dozens of other unanticipated expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs, car towing and repairs and lost wages due to time off from work. The average DUI case costs about $10,000.

Refusing to take a breath test in many jurisdictions results in immediate arrest, the loss of your driver's license on the spot, and the impoundment of your vehicle.

"Impaired driving is a choice and is completely preventable," said Russo. "Drink responsibly or drive sober – these are good choices. We want to keep people from making a poor choice that harms others and themselves."

For more information, contact the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, Capt. Steve SanAntonio at 908-231-7168.

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