Caldwell Police To Hold DWI Crackdown Until 2016

Caldwell, NJ - The Caldwell Police Department will be conducting a DWI crackdown beginning Friday and ending Jan. 1, as part of the statewide “Drive Sober of Get Pulled Over” campaign.

According to an advisory posted on Thursday:

“Law enforcement officers from Caldwell will be cracking down on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs as part of the annual end of year “Drive Sober of Get Pulled Over” statewide campaign. Beginning December 11, 2015 and continuing through January 1, 2016, local and state law enforcement officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated.

“The national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over effort endeavors to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving through a combination of high-visibility enforcement and public education.

“Last year, 27% of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey were alcohol-related. Nationally, more than 10,000 people die each year in drunk driving crashes. The societal cost associated with these crashes is estimated to be $37 billion annually.

“Law enforcement agencies participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2015 Year End Holiday Crackdown offer the following advice for the holiday season:

• Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.
• Take mass transit, a taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
• Spend the night where the activity is held.
• Report impaired drivers to law enforcement. In New Jersey, drivers may dial #77 to report a drunk or aggressive driver. Your actions may save someone’s life and inaction could cost a life.
• Always buckle up, every ride, regardless of your seating position in the vehicle. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.
• If you’re intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive you to your doorstep.

“This is a critical law enforcement program that can save lives during a time of the year when impaired driving traditionally increases by nearly 10 percent,” said Chief Bongiorno. “People that choose to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or using drugs pose a grave danger to all roadway users and this initiative is designed to bring attention to this important issue.”

Send Caldwell news tips and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com