'Drive Sober or Get Pulled' Over Begins Today

Beginning today, the New Milford Police department joins more than 10,000 police departments and law enforcement agencies nationwide in participating in the annual 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign. 

Chief of Police Frank Papapietro said that being part of this initiative is important to his department especially since New Milford is a cut through town for many people on their way to and from Route 4. "Drunk drivers are the leading cause of traffic deaths," Papapietro said. "We want to protect the safety of our residents."

Sponsored by the The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' is designed to crackdown on people who get behind the wheel of a car drunk. The DOT said that recent statistics show that 70 percent of deaths that occurred as a result of a drunk driver in 2010 involved drivers with blood alcohol levels that were nearly twice the .08 legal limit.

According to Papapietro, 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' is funded through DWI enforcement funds. A portion of the fines collected from DWI arrests go toward funding this initiative. "No overtime costs are incurred by the taxpayers for our participation in this program," he said. 

Papapietro warned residents and those driving through New Milford, "If you choose to drive drunk, you will be held accountable."

"It's important that you have a designated driver should you choose to drink," he added. 

'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' runs from August 17 to September 3.