Efforts planned for August 15, 2008 through Labor Day
PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (Aug. 8, 2008)—The Calvert County Sheriff's Office announced today it will be joining with thousands of other law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation from August 15 throughout the Labor Day holiday to take part in the "Drunk Driving - Over the Limit - Under Arrest." crackdown on impaired driving. The agency will be visibly conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and using Deputies in covert vehicles to get more drunk drivers off the road.
"If we catch you driving impaired by alcohol or drugs, we will arrest you. No exceptions. No excuses," said Sheriff Mike Evans.
"During the first seven months of this year, Troopers and Deputies have arrested more than 600 individuals that were over that limit and posed a threat to others", continued Sheriff Evans. "In addition, "five of Calvert County's eight traffic deaths that have occurred so far this year can be directly correlated with someone's decision to get behind the wheel while impaired by alcohol. It's time for many of our motorists to realize that driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is not only illegal, but significantly impact lives in many other negative ways."
Evans warns people about the trials and tribulations they will face if caught for DUI or DWI.
"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 Sheriff Evans. "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 over the limit, you are under arrest."
The national "Drunk Driving - Over the Limit - Under Arrest" impaired driving crackdown is a prevention 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.
This year's effort is supported by $11 million in paid-national advertising to help put everyone on notice that if they are caught driving impaired, they will be arrested.