HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Driving Under the Association reminds drivers and boaters that celebrating Independence Day with family and friends should mean an enjoyable time is shared by everyone, not time spent in handcuffs, the hospital or worse - the morgue.
Pennsylvania's DUI Task Forces funded by PennDOT and federal highway safety dollars are gearing up for checkpoints, roving patrols and general DUI deterrence events all across the state began Monday and continue through July 7. Drug Recognition Expert officers will also be working throughout the enforcement period if an officer determines a driver may be impaired on a substance other than alcohol.
Law enforcement across Pennsylvania will be participating in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign in the effort to focus on keeping families safe from impaired drivers surrounding the 2013 Independence Day travel and boating holiday period.
Last year, July 4 was a Wednesday. Impaired driving-related crashes and fatalities from the period of Friday, June 29, through Sunday, July 8, reveal that 355 impairment-related crashes occurred resulting in 20 persons needlessly losing their lives.
Driving under the influence goes beyond alcoholic beverage consumption; driving impaired is under the influence of any substance that impairs a person's ability to operate a motor vehicle, motorcycle or boat safely which can result in a DUI or BUI (boating under the influence) arrest.
On state waterways during the short boating season of 2012, Fish and Boat Commission waterways conservation officers arrested 60 persons for boating under the influence, which, like DUI, is a criminal offense.
On the Net: www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/july4th