OCEAN CITY — From now through Labor Day, Ocean City police will be out in force as part of the annual nationwide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown on drunk driving. The crackdown, which will include high-visibility enforcement throughout Ocean City, began on Aug. 16 and runs through Sept. 2.
The crackdown will include high-visibility enforcement and will be supported by national paid advertising, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb drunk driving in August and through the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Although it is illegal in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive drunk (having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher), far too many people across the nation get behind the wheel after consuming too much alcohol. The latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underscore the serious nature of the nation’s continuing drunk driving epidemic.
“Research has shown that high-visibility enforcement like ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaigns reduces drunken driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. By joining this nationwide effort, we will make Ocean City’s roadways safer for everyone throughout the Labor Day period,” said Ocean City PoliceChief Ross Buzzuro. “We want to remind everyone that getting behind the wheel drunk is a terrible idea. Unfortunately, not only does drinking impair your ability to operate a vehicle safely, it also impairs your judgment and good sense about whether you can, or should drive. There are many safe modes of transportation for our residents and visitors to take advantage of, such as municipal busses and our local taxi companies.”
Being arrested for driving drunk brings a wide range of negative consequences into one’s life. Drunk drivers face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, and steep financial consequences such as higher insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators also often face tremendous personal embarrassment.
“Driving drunk is simply not worth the risk. So don’t take the chance. Remember, we will be out in force and we will be watching, so ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,’” said Buzzuro.