Lacey Police to Crack Down on Drunken Driving in August

The Lacey Township Police Department will be cracking down on drunken drivers in August as part of a statewide summer 2012 “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

“Many people believe that after a few drinks they’re still safe to drive,” said Gary Poedubicky, acting director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “Even one drink can impair your judgment and reaction time, putting no only yourself, but everyone on the road in danger.”

From Friday, Aug. 17 through Monday, Sept. 3, local and state police will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols, targeting potentially intoxicated motorists, a news release from the police department said.

The event is part of a national effort, launched in 1999, to combat drunken driving during the busiest travel times of the year, such as Labor Day weekend. The Division of Highway Traffic Safety provides grants to local law enforcement agencies to run the two-week campaign.

The campaign will help to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement and public education tools, including posters, banners and mobile video display signs, the news release said.

In 2010, 20 percent of New Jersey’s motor vehicle fatalities were a result of alcohol-impaired drivers, the release said.

The Lacey Township Police Department asks motorists: 

• If you plan to drink, before going out, designate a sober driver.
• Take public transportation or ask a sober friend to drive you home. If you intend to travel on foot, still seek reliable transportation.
• Spend the night where the activity is held.
• Report impaired drivers to the police. In New Jersey, drivers may dial #77 to report a drunken or aggressive driver.
• Always wear your seat belt.

For more information on the campaign, click here.