Not yet a member?Join now!|Lost password
State of Pennsylvania
06/28/2012 | Press release
PennDOT, Police to Partner for Independence Day DUI Enforcement
distributed by noodls on 06/28/2012 18:30
News for Immediate
Release
June 28, 2012
PennDOT, Police to
Partner for
Independence Day DUI
Enforcement
Harrisburg - State and
local police, along
with PennDOT, will
take part in
a national enforcement
effort through July
8 targeting motorists
who drive under
the influence. The
"Drive Sober or
Get Pulled Over"
enforcement effort
will focus on
keeping Pennsylvania's
roads safe during
the Independence Day
travel period.
"Many people will
celebrate and travel
for the Independence
Day holiday," PennDOT
Secretary Barry J.
Schoch said. "Driving
under the influence
of alcohol or
drugs puts your
life and the
lives of those
around you in
danger. Designate a
driver ahead of
time or arrange
for a ride
home - just
don't drive unless
you're sober."
Over last year's
Independence Day
holiday travel period
(July 1-4), there
were 897 crashes
and 14 fatalities.
Of those, according
to PennDOT, 146
crashes and six
fatalities were
alcohol-related.
During 2011 there were
11,778 alcohol-related
crashes in
Pennsylvania, according
to PennDOT data,
in which 425
people were killed.
In 2010, there
were 11,682
alcohol-related crashes,
according to PennDOT,
in which 444
people were
killed.
"Motorists must understand
that alcohol and
driving never mix,"
said State Police
Commissioner Frank Noonan.
"Don't get behind
the wheel of
a vehicle if
you've
been drinking, even if
you plan to
only drive a
short distance. Enjoy
the holiday, but
make safety a
priority."
The legal blood-alcohol
content in
Pennsylvania is 0.08
for motorists over
the age of
21. For underage
drivers, the
blood-alcohol limit is
0.02 percent. DUI
penalties can include
jail time, license
suspension and fines
of between $500
and $5,000.
Pennsylvania's DUI Task
Forces, the
Pennsylvania State
Police and local
law enforcement
statewide will conduct
checkpoints and roving
patrols as part
of the crackdown.
Funding comes from
part of PennDOT's
statewide distribution
of $4.2 million
in federal funds
from the National
Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
Visit www.JustDrivePA.com
for more information
on impaired driving
and
PennDOT's other important
traffic-safety initiatives.
Media contacts: Erin
Waters, PennDOT;
717-783-8800 or Maria
Finn, State
Police;
717-783-5556
###
