Attleboro Police Launch DUI Crackdown

The following is an edited release from the :

The Attleboro Police Department is joining 128 other Massachusetts law enforcement agencies in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving through Sept. 3 as part of the national "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" mobilization, 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 most-often-committed and deadliest crimes in the United States. In 2010, 115 people died in impaired driving related crashes in Massachusetts. Moreover, there were an additional 2,750 impaired driving related personal injury and property damage crashes and almost 14,635 impaired driving arrests. 

On average, there is one alcohol-impaired-driving-related fatality every 51 minutes across the nation. The number of drivers operating under the influence increases during holiday weekends, especially during summer holidays. 

"All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life," Police Chief Kyle Heagney said. "Because we're committed to highway safety, we are intensifying enforcement during the crackdown." 

He continued, "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 police officers will be aggressively looking for impaired 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," Heagney 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."