LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES STATEWIDE BEGIN HOLIDAY DUI CRACKDOWN
With BC-CNS-Crackdown-Box
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 (thumbnails, captions below)
By STEPHANIE SANCHEZ
Cronkite News Service
PHOENIX (Tuesday, Nov. 20) _ If you think about getting behind the wheel after too many cocktails this holiday season, law enforcement agencies have 2,683 reasons why you shouldn’t.
That’s the number of Arizonans arrested during a statewide DUI crackdown during the last six weeks of 2006.
The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety announced Tuesday that 17 DUI task forces are hitting the streets and highways once again in hopes of reducing alcohol-related traffic fatalities.
Roger Vanderpool, director of Arizona Department of Public Safety, held up a pair of handcuffs to show what drivers have in store if they fail to consider taxis, public transportation or designated drivers when drinking.
“If you drive intoxicated or impaired, the blue-and-brown uniforms are going to take you to jail and give you nice jewelry as a gift to wear in jail,” Vanderpool said.
In 2006, 1,288 people in Arizona were killed in traffic accidents, and 585 of those accidents were alcohol-related, according to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis.
“Every minute, every day or this evening, some law enforcement officer will show up at an office or home to let someone know that their loved one who they kissed goodbye this morning is not coming back,” said David Manning, regional administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“If you persist in being a knucklehead and driving drunk, then we want you to know that drunk driving over the limit means ‘under arrest’ this holiday season, and you’re going to spend your time in jail,” Manning said.
As with past holiday DUI crackdowns, drivers can expect sobriety checkpoints. In addition, patrols will be beefed up in areas with high concentrations of drunken driving.
The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving for a “Tie One On For Safety” campaign, in which those who pledge not to drink and drive put red MADD ribbons and window decals on their vehicles. Those items are available through local MADD affiliates, participating businesses and MADD’s Web site, www.madd.org.
Law enforcement agencies also will be giving out flashing red and blue plastic ice cubes to bars and restaurants as a reminder that police are looking for drunk drivers.
^___=
Web Links:
_ Governor’s Office of Highway Safety: www.azgohs.gov
_ Department of Public Safety: www.azdps.gov
_ National Highway Traffic Safety Admin.: www.nhtsa.dot.gov
_ Mothers Against Drunk Driving: www.madd.org
^___=
PHOTOS: Click thumbnails to see full-resolution images and download
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-DUI CRACKDOWN: David Manning, regional administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administratin, ties a Mothers Against Drunk Driving ribbon in an emergency vehicle Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007, at a ceremony kicking off a statewide DUI crackdown. Nearly 3,000 Arizonans were arrested during last year’s holiday season. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Stephanie Sanchez)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-DUI CRACKDOWN: Mothers Against Drunk Driving ribbons grace the antenna of an emergency vehicle Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007, at a ceremony kicking off a statewide DUI crackdown. Nearly 3,000 Arizonans were arrested during last year’s holiday season. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Stephanie Sanchez)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-DUI CRACKDOWN: A vehicle used for DUI enforcement is shown at a ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007, kicking off a statewide DUI crackdown. Nearly 3,000 Arizonans were arrested during last year’s holiday season. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Stephanie Sanchez)