County Attorney Announces 'Drive Sober' Campaign To Be Strengthened During Holidays

From the County Attorney's Office
If you’re enjoying the holidays with a drink, the Edmonson County Attorney’s Office has a message for you: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.Due to the increase in drunk-driving-related fatalities around the holidays each year, law enforcement agencies across America will be actively searching for and arresting drunk drivers from December 17 to January 1.

They have good reason to: in 2013, 10,076 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver. In December 2013 alone there were 733 people killed in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. 23 of those deaths occurred on Christmas Day.

“It’s time for all drivers to get the message,” said J.B. Hines, Edmonson County Attorney. “Drunk driving is a choice you make, and when you make that choice, people get hurt or die. That’s why we’re joining with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to share the message: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

​The safest way to get home, Hines said, is to drive sober or catch a ride with a sober designated driver. If you plan on drinking at the holiday party or at a restaurant, hand the keys over to someone else – a sober friend, a taxi or public transportation.

As part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign period, law enforcement will be increasing the number of patrols, setting up roadblocks, and using local media to reach out to all drivers. If you’re drinking and driving, law enforcement will stop you. If you’re caught drinking and driving you could face jail time, fines, loss of driver’s license, towing fees, and other DUI expenses. That’s not a small price, and that doesn’t even count the heftier price you could pay: the price of your life or someone else’s.

“We can’t stand to see this tragic loss of life again and again,” added Hines. “That’s why, leading up to the holidays, we will show zero tolerance for drunk drivers on the road. Please find a safe and sober ride home.”

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