Chief Joseph O’Connor
219 Walden Street
P.O. Box 519
Concord, MA 01742
For Immediate Release
Friday, Dec. 12, 2014
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]
Concord Police Department Aggressively Enforcing Drunk Driving Laws During the Holiday Season
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
6 Arrests Made in December so Far, Compared to One During Same Time Period Last Year
CONCORD, Mass. — Chief Joseph O’Connor reports that the Concord Police Department has already made six arrests for operating under the influence this month, compared to one arrest during the same period of time last year.
The increase in arrests as of Dec. 12 is in large part due to an aggressive mobilization of resources by the Concord Police Department to find and stop drunk drivers and prevent them from causing a crash and harming innocent people.
“The Concord Police Department is committed to a safe and healthy holiday season,” Chief O’Connor said. “If you are going to drink, use a designated driver. Our officers are out in force, and they will find you on the roads. Together we can prevent the senseless loss of life that all too often comes with driving under the influence.”
Chief O’Connor also asks members of the public to call the police if they notice a driver who may be impaired.
“We are committed to ensuring that our roadways are safe for the public. We ask the public to partner with us and immediately call 911 if they see a vehicle operating erratically,” he said.
Concord joins nearly 200 other law enforcement agencies, which are running extra patrols through the New Year as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization. This campaign is funded by a federal grant administered through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS/HSD).
The facts are grim. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2012 in Massachusetts, 123 people were killed in crashes that involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Nationally, in December of 2012, there were 830 people killed in crashes involving at least one driver with a BAC of .08 or higher. 26 of those deaths occurred on Christmas Day.
As part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign, police will increase patrols, conduct sobriety checkpoints, and conduct public outreach through local media with hopes of delivering their life saving message to drivers. If you’re drinking and driving, Concord Police will find and arrest you. No warnings, no excuses. You’ll face jail time, fines, loss of your driver’s license, towing fees, and other OUI expenses, totaling $10,000 on average.
Concord Police are using their $2500 grant from the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over program to increase traffic enforcement, specifically looking for and targeting OUI offenders. Since December 1, Concord has had 6 OUI arrests, compared with only one during the same time frame last year.
Overall Concord has made 37 OUI arrests so far this year, compared with 31 arrests all last year.
Concord Police strongly suggest that anyone drinking should designate a sober driver ahead of time, call a friend or family member, use public transportation, or call a taxi. The alternatives are all far less expensive than the risks of arrest, prosecution, and possible taking someone else’s life.
###
