Cinnaminson Cops Crack Down On Drunk Driving During The Holidays

CINNAMINSON, NJ — Cinnaminson police will be keeping an eye out for residents who get behind the wheel after partying too hard this holiday season.

Police will participate in the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" statewide campaign from Dec. 4, 2020, through Jan. 1, 2021, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced on Friday.

As part of the campaign, they will conduct marked and unmarked patrols looking for anyone who may be driving while intoxicated. The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving through a combination of high-visibility enforcement and public education, police said.

“This has been a year of tremendous loss for New Jersey residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are all feeling especially grateful for the loved ones with us this holiday season,” Grewal said. “Help ensure that everyone can safely celebrate this year by driving sober and unimpaired. Drunk driving crashes are tragic and preventable. We are stepping up patrols and enforcement to keep New Jersey roadways safe for all who use them this holiday season.”

Over the last five years, there have been 38,000 accidents involving alcohol, resulting in more than 700 deaths, police said. During the holidays, police said impaired driving traditionally increases by about 10 percent.

Last year, 20 percent of all traffic deaths in New Jersey were alcohol-related, police said. Nationally, more than 10,000 people die each year in drunk driving crashes, police said. The societal cost associated with these crashes is estimated to be $37 billion annually, according to police.

“Our mission is to ensure that travelers on New Jersey roadways reach their destinations safely — especially during the holiday season when crash risks increase,” said Eric Heitmann, Director of Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “We pursue this mission through programs like Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over that raise public awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and provide law enforcement with funding for enhanced enforcement. This season, make sure a designated driver is part of your holiday celebration plans. Anyone driving under influence can count on encountering a law enforcement presence on the State’s roadways.”

Law enforcement agencies participating in the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2020 Year End Holiday Crackdown" offer the following advice for the holiday season:

• Take mass transit, a taxicab, or ask a sober friend to drive you home or just spend the night;
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement immediately to report it;
• Always buckle-up, every ride. It's your best defense against an impaired driver; and
• Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.

For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.