The Cape Coral Police Department Arrested 26 Impaired Drivers During the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign
The Cape Coral Police Department partnered with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Labor Day weekend impaired-driving enforcement campaign. From August 17-September 3, local law enforcement showed zero tolerance for impaired driving, arresting 26 offenders for the deadly crime.
The Cape Coral Police Department ramped up its usual enforcement efforts, adding one nighttime saturation, one daytime saturation, and one late afternoon saturation. Sergeant James Lear, Traffic Unit Supervisor of the Cape Coral Police Department said that by removing 26 impaired drivers from the roads, many lives were likely saved.
“Impaired driving is a problem on our community’s roads, and the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign gives our personnel an opportunity to help spread the message that this behavior is deadly and illegal,” said Master Sergeant Allan Kolak, Public Affairs Office of the Cape Coral Police Department. The Labor Day Weekend “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Enforcement Campaign resulted in 270 traffic stops, 18 arrests (resulting in 19 misdemeanor charges, 5 felony charges), 6 criminal citations, and 9 DUI arrests.
Over the 2016 Labor Day holiday period (6 p.m. September 2 – 5:59 a.m. September 6), there were 433 crash fatalities nationwide. Of the fatal crashes, more than one-third (36%) involved drivers who were drunk (.08+ blood alcohol concentration [BAC]), and one-fourth (25%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). Age is a particularly risky factor: Among the drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday period in 2016, 47 percent of those fatalities involved drunk drivers with BACs of .08 or higher.
“It is the partygoer’s responsibility to refrain from drinking and driving,” said Sergeant James Lear. “That is why it is essential to use one of the countless tools available to ensure you get home safely. Drinking and driving is a choice; one you should never make.”
For more information on this and other highway safety campaigns, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.
Why Enforcement Matters
In 2016, 10,497 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes—almost a third of all traffic fatalities nationwide. To put it in perspective, that’s equal to about 20 jumbo jets crashing, with no survivors. While we see some fluctuation in numbers from year to year, drunk driving is still a major issue. Labor Day proves to be an especially dangerous time on the roads, as people are enjoying those last summer parties and, sadly, making the deadly decision to drive after drinking. In fact, in 2016, nearly 20 percent of all drunk-driving fatalities occurred over the Labor Day holiday period. The statistics are clear: Labor Day weekend is a dangerous time for people out on the roads. It is important that those considering driving after drinking know there are deadly consequences to their actions.
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