‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign begins Friday

Metro Wire Staff

The Portage County Sheriff’s Office is one of several local law enforcement agencies joining forces this month for stronger enforcement of impaired driving.

The annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign begins on Friday, Dec. 15 and ends on New  Year’s Day.

During the national holiday campaign, law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin will patrol in greater numbers, for longer hours, watching for impaired drivers.

According to Sheriff Mike Lukas, there were 6,230 alcohol-related crashes that resulted in 155 deaths in Wisconsin — approximately one-quarter of all of the state’s traffic fatalities.

“This campaign is not about stopping and arresting motorists,” Lukas said in a press release this week. “It is about saving lives and preventing needless tragedies during the holiday season. We need all drivers to make smart and responsible decisions.”

To help combat impaired driving, Wisconsin has:

• Nearly 7,000 law enforcement officers are trained in Advance Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) to help detect and remove impaired drivers.
• Almost 400 highly -trained Drug Recognition Experts – among the nation’s most.
• 29 multi-jurisdictional high-visibility enforcement task forces.

If you plan to celebrate, identify a sober designated driver, or find a safe alternate way home. Never allow someone to get behind the wheel impaired. If you encounter a suspected impaired driver, call 911 and provide as much detail as possible on the driver, vehicle, and location.

During the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, and throughout the year, the goal is to help ensure all travelers reach their destinations safely.