Hot Springs police and other local and state law enforcement officers will be out in full force this July Fourth holiday cracking down on drunken drivers by aggressively targeting those who put lives in danger, a news release says.
"The 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign means zero tolerance for drunken driving -- no excuses."
Each year, Americans hit the road headed for destinations to celebrate the Fourth of July at picnics, parties, parades and many other events. Unfortunately, the celebrating includes drinking alcohol followed by drunken driving on streets and highways during this heavily traveled holiday period.
Nationwide, there were 397 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2014 over the five-day holiday period. Among those deaths, 164 people, or 41 percent, died from crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood-alcohol concentration of .08 gram per deciliter or higher.
Officers will devote additional patrol hours beginning today and continuing through July 4.
"If you're caught driving drunk, you will be arrested and the consequences of drunken driving are serious. Not only do you put your life and the lives of others at risk, but a DWI arrest could result in a court sentence diminishing driving freedom, attorney fees, court fines and a spike in driver insurance rates," the release said.
Local on 06/25/2016