Attleboro Police Crack Down on Drunk Driving

The following is an edited press release from the Attleboro Police Department about its holiday season program to crack down on drunk driving:

The Attleboro Police Department will join law enforcement agencies statewide in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving from Dec. 14 through Jan. 1 as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization. The program is funded by a federal grant administered through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's Highway Safety Division.

Impaired driving is one of the nation's most often committed and deadliest crimes. On average, there is one alcohol impaired driving-related fatality every 51 minutes across the country. The number of drivers operating under the influence of or operating negligently increases during the holiday season.

"All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life," said Attleboro Police Chief Kyle Heagney. "Because we're committed to highway safety, we are intensifying enforcement during the crackdown. Since twice as many alcohol-impaired crashes occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night, we will be especially vigilant during these high-risk times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads."

Heagney said Attleboro officers will be aggressively looking for impaired and aggressive drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone they find driving while impaired—regardless of age, vehicle type or time of day.

"Think twice before you drink and drive," he said. "It's not just your life you're gambling with. Each year thousands of innocent people are killed by the reckless act of drunk drivers." 

According to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, violators often face jail time, loss of their driver licenses or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. Their insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work and the potential loss of job or job prospects. All told, a first offense can easily cost well over $5,000. 

Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences. Remember, drive sober or get pulled over.