The Lafayette Police Department will be participating in the national and statewide 2016 Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization occurring August 12 through September 5, 2016. Officers will join more than 250 state and local law enforcement agencies, and thousands more across the country, to conduct high-visibility patrols encouraging drivers against drinking and driving.
“Preventing traffic tragedies and ensuring safe vehicle operation is always a priority for the Lafayette Police Department,” Lt. Brian Gossard. “This campaign is another opportunity to engage in extra enforcement that targets dangerous driving behavior.”
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is an annual enforcement effort supported by federal funding allocated to Lafayette Police Department from the Traffic Safety Division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). According to ICJI, in 2015, there were 4,828 alcohol-impaired collisions in Indiana, resulting in 92 fatalities. This is a 26.5 percent decrease in the number of alcohol-impaired collisions, and a 9 percent decrease in resulting fatalities, from 2014.
“While this decrease in alcohol-impaired collisions and fatalities means we’re on the right track, there’s still room for improvement” said ICJI Director Dave Murtaugh. “In an effort to ensure our roads are safe at every turn, we will continue increase Indiana’s education and enforcement on impaired driving.”
Indiana law enforcement agencies have been actively involved in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign for over 20 years.
For more information regarding the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization campaign, please visit: http://www.nhtsa.gov/drivesober/.
Sgt. Will Carpenter
Lafayette Police Department