The will be out in force along with other law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin and the rest of the nation for the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown on drunken drivers.
From Aug. 17 to Sept. 3, which includes the Labor Day weekend, Greendale police will be on alert with highly visibile law enforcement and patrol.
Drunk driving continues to be prevalent, persistent and deadly on city streets and rural roads throughout Wisconsin, according to a department release. Last year, 225 people were killed and nearly 3,000 injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes in Wisconsin. There were more than 35,000 convictions for drunken driving in Wisconsin last year.
“Drunken driving is entirely preventable," said Police Chief Robert Malasuk. "If we can deter people from getting behind the wheel when they’re not sober, we will make progress toward the goal of reaching zero preventable traffic deaths in Wisconsin.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 147 people were killed in accidents involving an impaired driver during the Labor Day weekend of 2010. About 80 percent of fatalities in alcohol impaired driving crashes over the 2010 Labor Day weekend occurred between the hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m.
“Our message during the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign and throughout the year is simple," Malasuk said. "If you’re driving while impaired, we will arrest you. The devastating consequences of a drunken driving arrest include major embarrassment, expensive penalties, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device on all your vehicles, and possibly jail time. Driving drunk will be a decision you’ll regret the rest of your life, if you are lucky enough to live.”
Research shows that that high-visibility enforcement reduces alcohol impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent, according to the NHTSA. The campaign focuses on commiting to the crackdown, raise awarenes, emphasize conseqences and maximize enforcement success.
