Skating with Santa in Toms River
December 1, 2021SantaCon 2021 in Seaside Heights, NJ
December 2, 2021
DWI Enforcement Grants are awarded to Seaside Heights and Pine Beach.
With the approaching holiday season, law enforcement agencies across the state are stepping up their efforts to combat intoxicated and impaired driving.
The annual "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign begins in New Jersey on Friday, and communities around the state, including Seaside Heights and Pine Beach, will get $6,000 funds to assist pay extra patrols during the Christmas season.
In municipalities that do not receive funding, patrols will be increased.
The crackdown on drunk driving in New Jersey is part of a worldwide campaign to decrease traffic fatalities during the holiday season, when data suggest a higher risk of collisions. The campaign's purpose is to raise awareness about the hazards of drinking and driving through heightened public education and high-visibility policing.
"Let me be clear – those who drive while impaired will face serious consequences," Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said. "Getting behind the wheel drunk or high puts the driver, their passengers, and the public in jeopardy. Our traffic safety campaign will help everyone to enjoy the holiday season — responsibly."
In 2021, New Jersey saw a significant increase in fatal crashes, with 604 fatal crashes killing 630 people. According to New Jersey State Police, there were 549 deadly crashes in 2020, resulting in 587 deaths, a rise of 25 fatal collisions and 29 deaths despite the epidemic.
According to the New Jersey State Police Fatal Crash Report for 2020, alcohol and/or drugs were involved in 162 of the 549 fatal crashes, killing 178 people. 258 of the 304 drivers killed in 2020 collisions had their blood alcohol levels tested, and 93 of them (36 percent) had drank an alcoholic beverage, with 74 of them having a blood alcohol level of.08 percent or higher.
117 of the 519 drivers who survived collisions had their blood alcohol levels checked. According to the state police report, 37 of them tested positive for alcohol, with 26 of them — or 70.3 percent — having a blood alcohol level of.08 percent or greater.
During the month-long enforcement campaign, the state grants to local law enforcement agencies pay for saturation patrols and high-visibility sobriety checkpoints.
Last year's Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Christmas program resulted in 590 DUI arrests (alcohol and/or drugs) across the state, with 3,121 summonses for speeding and 817 for seat belt violations issued by participating police departments.
