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. They have good reason to – 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. Twenty-three 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.
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 current DUII/High Visibility Enforcement grant event began on Dec. 9. Since that time, UCSO deputies have arrested five persons for DUII, four of which occurred during high visibility enforcement. They have also issued
several warnings and/or citations for other crash causing violations such as speeding, and using a cell phone while driving. The current grant event will continue through Jan. 1, 2017.
In addition to reminding all drivers to drive sober, 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.
