MONROE – Law enforcement officers from the Monroe Police Department will be cracking down on drunk or drugged drivers as part of their annual year-end drive
Statewide “Drive Sober or Get Stopped” campaign.
Beginning Dec. 2 and continuing through Jan. 1, 2023, local, county and state law enforcement agencies will conduct patrols and checkpoints in search of motorists who may be driving under the influence of alcohol, according to a police department press release Monroe Township. .
The national Drive Sober or Get Stopped campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of impaired driving through a combination of visibility enforcement and public education.
“Over the past five years, New Jersey has had more than 33,000 crashes resulting in 662 deaths,” said Police Chief Michael Biennas. “This is a critical law enforcement program that can save lives at a time of year when public drinking increases the risk of impaired driving.”
Last year, 23% of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey were alcohol-related. In 2020, 11,654 people died in accidents while driving under the influence of alcohol. According to a press release, the public costs associated with these accidents are estimated at $44 billion annually.
Law enforcement agencies involved in crackdowns in late 2022 offer the following holiday season tips:
• Take public transport, a taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
• Spend the night where there is an event or party.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions can save someone’s life, and inaction can cost someone their life.
• Always buckle up, every time you ride. This is your best defense against an impaired driver.
• If you are intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a taxi or ask a sober friend or family member to give you a ride or walk you to your doorstep.
• Be responsible. If someone you know drinks, don’t let them get behind the wheel.
