Police to Crack Down on Drunk Drivers

Local police personnel will be participating in the national effort to cut down on drunk drivers starting Friday.

The Westwood and Washington Township police departments are two of many that are participating in the Over the Limit, Under Arrest campaign. This year, the initiative runs from Aug. 19 to Sept. 5. It includes sobriety checkpoints to look for drivers who are intoxicated.

The initiative was launched nationally in 1999 and aims to raise awareness about the dangers of driving drunk and show motorists that law enforcement takes the offense very seriously.

"Many people believe that after just a few drinks, they're safe to drive," said Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "Even one drink can impair your judgment and reaction time, putting not only yourself, but everyone on the road, in danger."

The Division of Highway Traffic Safety offers grants to communities for the Over the Limit, Under Arrest campaign.

According to the organization, 149 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in New Jersey in 2009, 25 percent of the traffic fatalities that year.

Police departments participating in Over the Limit, Under Arrest released the following tips:

• If you plan to drink, designate a driver, someone who will not drink alcohol, before going out.
• 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.
• 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 go home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive you to your doorstep.