Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The Presque Isle Police Department is joining other law enforcement and safety agencies throughout the nation in launching their latest campaign geared at getting drunk drivers off the road, ‘Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.’ “Officers will be out in full force during the Labor Day holiday, beginning Aug. 21. We’ll join thousands of other law enforcement and highway safety agencies throughout the nation as they take part in the crackdown on impaired driving,” said Sgt. Joey Seeley, PIPD.
The enforcement blitz will last through the holiday weekend.
Seeley said drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes.
“In 2007, nearly 13,000 people died in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher,” he said.
The picture for motorcycle riders is particularly bleak. In fatal crashes in 2007, Seeley said a higher percentage of motorcycle riders (27 percent) had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher than any other type of motor vehicle driver.
“Make no mistake. Our message is simple. No matter what you drive — a passenger car, pickup, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle — if we catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions. No excuses,” Seeley said.
Law enforcement’s goal with the campaign is to get more drunk drivers off the road and save lives.
“Drive with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state. Yet we continue to see a tragic number of people with debilitating injuries and deaths as a result of impaired driving. This careless disregard for human life must stop. To help ensure that happens, the PIPD is dedicated to arresting impaired drivers wherever and whenever we find them,” said Seeley.
Seeley said the risks are just too great for someone to attempt to drive while under the influence.
“Drunk driving is simply not worth the risk. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving can be significant,” said Seeley. “Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, time away from work and dozens of other expenses. So don’t take the chance. Remember, if you are caught over the limit, you will be placed under arrest.”
The national ‘Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest’ impaired driving crackdown is a program organized by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that focuses on combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity. For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.com.
