New Jersey’s massive annual drunk driving crackdown begins today.
Law enforcement officers from more than 50 agencies – from Cherry Hill to Harvey Cedars to Medford – will be manning sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols from Friday through Sept. 5 as part of the 2016 Labor Day statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.
- Tips to avoid getting pulled over
- If you plan to drink, designate a driver, someone who will not drink alcohol, before going out
- Take mass transit, a taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you home
- Spend the night where the activity is held
- Always buckle up, every ride, regardless of your seating position in the vehicle. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver
- If you’re intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab, or have a sober friend or family member drive you to your doorstep
The national campaign raises awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement backed up by public educational efforts including national radio and television advertisements and posters. It seeks to curtail impaired driving during the busy summer travel season.
“Many people believe that after a few drinks they’re still safe to drive,” said Gary Poedubicky, acting director of the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety, in a statement. “Even one drink can impair your judgment and reaction time, putting not only yourself, but everyone on the road, in danger.”
“There is a zero tolerance message for this campaign. If drivers are caught operating their vehicle while impaired they will be arrested,” he added.
In 2013, 27 percent of New Jersey’s motor vehicle fatalities involved alcohol impairment.
The following agencies received $5,000 grants from the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety to run the two-week campaign:
ATLANTIC COUNTY
Absecon PD
Atlantic County Sheriff's Office
Egg Harbor Twp PD
Galloway PD
Hamilton PD
Hammonton PD
Longport PD
Mullica PD
Northfield PD
Pleasantville PD
Somers Point PD
BURLINGTON COUNTY
Burlington Twp PD
Cinnaminson PD
Delran PD
Evesham PD
Mansfield PD
Medford PD
Mount Holly PD
Mount Laurel PD
New Hanover PD
Palmyra PD
Pemberton PD
Riverside PD
Westampton PD
CAMDEN COUNTY
Barrington PD
Berlin PD
Berlin Twp PD
Camden County Metro PD
Cherry Hill PD
Gloucester PD
Gloucester Twp PD
Haddonfield PD
Pennsauken PD
Pine Hill PD
Stratford PD
Voorhees PD
Winslow PD
CAPE MAY COUNTY
Lower Township PD
North Wildwood PD
Wildwood PD
OCEAN COUNTY
Barnegat PD
Bay Head PD
Berkeley PD
Harvey Cedars PD
Jackson PD
Lakehurst PD
Lakewood PD
Manchester PD
Mantoloking PD
Ocean Gate PD
Pine Beach PD
Point Pleasant Beach PD
Toms River PD
SALEM COUNTY
Carneys Point PD
Salem PD