During the past holiday season, The Gloucester Township Police Department (GTPD) partnered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and participated in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Year End Holiday Crackdown. Between December 6, 2019 and January 1, 2020 GTPD increased proactive enforcement operations utilizing marked and unmarked patrols designed to combat instances of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) due to drugs and alcohol. As a result of these enhanced efforts, GTPD showed zero tolerance for impaired driving, arresting 7 offenders for Driving While Intoxicated. Additionally, 80 drivers were issued summonses for driving with a suspended driver’s license and 79 summonses were issued for careless, reckless or otherwise unsafe driving behavior.
In addition to the 7 arrests for DWI, GTPD officers assigned to the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign also made five arrests of individuals with outstanding warrants and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. During one of the proactive patrols in the area of the Black Horse Pike an officer conducted a motor vehicle stop where the driver fled from the vehicle, leading officers on a foot pursuit. After a perimeter was established officers located the driver who was taken into custody and subsequently charged with Eluding, Resisting Arrest and Obstruction of Justice.
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Nationwide approximately 11,000 people are killed and over 300,000 injured each year in impaired driving related crashes. This means that roughly 30 people a day or one person every 48 minutes dies as a result of an impaired driving related crash. The GTPD was proud to work with the NHTSA in support of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Year End Crackdown campaign which aimed to reduce the number of people who lost their lives in traffic crashes involving impairment. Remember, drunk driving is not only illegal; it is a matter of life and death. Whenever you head out you should plan ahead and designate a sober driver. If you see a suspected drunk driver on the road contact law enforcement immediately to report the incident. You could save the life of that driver and any number of potential innocent victims. For additional information on the dangers of drinking and driving and on the designated driver program, visit http://www.nj.gov/oag/hts/index.html
