the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, with summer nearing its conclusion, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS) today announced the launch of enhanced enforcement efforts to deter impaired driving in New Jersey. Grant funding from HTS will be used to mobilize law enforcement agencies throughout the state to conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints and take alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers off the roadways.
The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which begins today and runs through Labor Day on September 2, is part of a nationwide effort to reduce crash risks and raise awareness about impaired driving during the final stretch of the summer season. To assist with New Jersey’s enforcement efforts, HTS has awarded $540,680 in grant funding to 110 police agencies across the state to fund enhanced patrols and high-visibility sobriety checkpoints during this busy and often dangerous time.
“Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not a mistake. It’s a crime that puts everyone on the road at risk,” said Attorney General Platkin. “The consequences are devastating and far-reaching – but preventable through responsible behavior and vigilant law enforcement. The campaign announced today provides overtime funds to police agencies across the state to help keep impaired drivers off our roads and avoid tragic outcomes for New Jersey families.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) most recent data, 13,524 individuals died in drunk-driving crashes in 2022 in the United States – roughly 37 each day, equivalent to one life lost every 39 minutes.
State-level data compiled by NHTSA shows there were only six states — Alaska, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Utah, and West Virginia – where alcohol-impaired drivers were responsible for a smaller share of a state’s traffic fatalities in 2022 than in New Jersey. However, New Jersey State Police data shows the number of intoxicated drivers involved in fatal crashes climbed each year from 2020 to 2022.
“Impaired driving is a direct threat to the safety of everyone on the road. It’s a matter of responsibility: Each driver has a duty to make safe choices behind the wheel, for their own well-being and that of others,” said Michael J. Rizol Jr., Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “If you choose to drive while impaired, you’re recklessly gambling with your life and the lives of the other people sharing the road.”
For those arrested by police for impaired driving, the legal repercussions could include fines of up to $10,000. Impaired drivers who are involved in a crash could be sentenced to prison and be left with a permanent criminal record.
During the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign leading up to Labor Day in 2023, the stepped-up efforts by law enforcement agencies led to 350 arrests for driving while intoxicated, 1,220 speeding tickets, and 634 seat belt summonses.
In addition to supporting law enforcement to maintain safe roadways, HTS encourages individuals to have open and honest conversations with their families and friends about responsible drinking and the dangers of impaired driving. Raising awareness and promoting responsible behavior is the key to reducing the number of alcohol-related crashes and fatalities.
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what SHOULD be done is saturate the roads with unmarked cruisers on a daily basis and pull over the aggressive drivers. Tailgating , unsafe lane changes all cause accidents. And I’d like to see the Police on the towns on RT 17 pull over those ambulances from NY State that are used as limousines to transport residents of a particular NY town to the diamond district. They are on RT 17 every day with lights and sirens blaring. a CLEAR violation when not being used for medical transport.
You’re probably right, but can you imagine the lawsuit if that police stop of an ambulance revealed a genuinely time-critical emergency?
In a critical emergency, coming from the area of ny state 30+ minutes north of the border, the closest hospital is good samaritan in suffern. By the time they pass by paramus its 50 minutes. Anyone in need of actual critical care would be flat lined by the time they get here. Any legit TV station or newspaper SHOULD do a story on this abuse. Follow the ambulances. See where the drop off and pickup sites are.. and put the story out there. Same abuses by the commercial ambulance services transporting between nursing homes that do not require lights and sirens. A fresh change of diapers isn’t a medical emergency
special rules for special people