If you’re enjoying the holidays with a drink, the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office has a message for you: Drive sober or get pulled over.
Due to the increase in drunk-driving-related fatalities around the holidays each year, law enforcement agencies across America will be actively searching for and arresting drunk drivers now through Jan. 1, 2016. In 2013, 10,076 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver. In December 2013 alone there were 733 people killed in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. 23 of those deaths occurred on Christmas Day.
“It’s time for all drivers to get the message,” said Sgt. Joshua Roberts. “Impaired driving is a choice you make, and when you make that choice, people get hurt or die. That’s why we’re joining with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to share the message: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” The safest way to get home is to drive sober or catch a ride with a sober designated driver. If you plan on drinking at the holiday party or at a restaurant, hand the keys over to someone else – a sober friend, or call a taxi.
As part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign period, the sheriff’s office will be increasing patrols in search of impaired drivers. If you’re drinking and driving, or driving under the influence of illegal and/or prescription drugs, UCSO deputies will stop you. If you’re caught driving impaired, you could face jail time, fines, loss of driver’s license, towing fees, and other DUI expenses, totaling $10,000 on average.
Roberts said some people think that if they get pulled over for driving drunk, they can just refuse a breath test to avoid the DUI charge.
“Not true,” said Sgt. Roberts. “In most jurisdictions, refusing a breath test means the loss of your driver’s license on the spot. The police can also apply for a search warrant to compel you to give a blood sample. The only way to truly avoid a DUI is to drive sober or designate a sober driver ahead of time.”
The sheriff’s office is calling on everyone to be alert. If you see a suspected impaired driver on the road, call the 24 dispatch center at 541-966-3651, or 911 if it appears to be an emergency.
