Saratoga County Sheriff: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over holiday campaign.
BALLSTON SPA — This holiday season, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is partnering with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office to share the message about the dangers of drunk driving. NHTSA and the Sheriff’s Office want all drivers to remember this lifesaving message: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
Drivers will see deputies working together Dec. 16, 2022, through Jan. 1, 2023, to take drunk drivers off the roads.
According to NHTSA, 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, and one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020.
“It’s so important that drivers act responsibly, and that includes refraining from impaired driving,” said Sheriff Michael H. Zurlo, in a statement. “We need commitment from drivers that they’ll keep the roads free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe holiday. This enforcement period allows us to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it takes lives. Help us put an end to this senseless behavior.
Nationally, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher, except in Utah, where the limit is .05 g/dL. And the costs can be financial, too: If you’re caught drinking and driving, you could face jail time, lose your driver’s license and your vehicle, and pay up to $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, higher insurance rates, and lost wages.
The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving. If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact the Sheriff’s Office at 518-885-6761 or call 911.