LPD Cracking Down Against Drunk Driving

The Lexington Police Department will join nearly 126 other law enforcement agencies statewide and thousands nationwide participating in an intensive crackdown on impaired driving through Labor Day. The federally funded mobilization through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Highway Safety Division, known as Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over runs Aug. 16 to Sept. 2. 

Nationally, impaired driving is one of the nation’s most often committed and deadliest crimes leading to catastrophic human and economic losses. Statistics show one alcohol impaired driving-related fatality occurred every 53 minutes across the nation in 2011. In that same year, 114 people died as a result of alcohol related crashes in the Commonwealth where drivers had a blood alcohol content level of .08 or higher.

“It’s predictable but fact -- the number of drivers operating under the influence increases during holiday weekends, especially during the summer,” said Lt. Christopher Barry. “All too often that means innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences from this careless disregard for human life. We’re committed to ending the carnage so we’re intensifying enforcement during this crackdown and will be especially vigilant during nights and weekends when impaired drivers are most likely on our roads.”

Lexington Police Department officers will be aggressively looking for all impaired drivers during the crackdown with plans to arrest anyone found operating a vehicle while impaired — regardless of age, vehicle type, or time of day.

“Our message is simple and unwavering: Operate a vehicle impaired and we will arrest you. No exceptions,” said Barry. “Driving impaired is simply not worth the potential consequences.

In any impaired driving stop, violators could face jail time, fines, suspension or loss of drivers’ licenses, mandatory use of ignition interlock devices, increased insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, lost wages, and the potential loss of job or job prospects which could easily run into thousands of dollars.

“The trauma and financial costs of an arrest or crash can destroy your life.  It’s not worth taking the chance,” said Barry. “But motorists have a choice: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”