Dracut Police Urge Residents Not to Drink and Drive This Holiday Season

DRACUT – As everyone prepares to continue celebrating the holidays, Chief Kevin Richardson and the Dracut Police Department are urging residents to never drink and drive.

Due to an increase in drunk-driving related fatalities during the holiday season every year, Dracut Police will be actively searching for and arresting drunk drivers as part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign from Dec. 16 to Jan. 1.

If you are drinking and driving, Dracut Police will stop you.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in December 2013, 733 people were killed in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. Twenty-three of those deaths occurred on Christmas Day.

“Drinking and driving is never ever the right decision,” Chief Richardson said. “We want all of our residents to be able to enjoy their holiday safely. Please, if you plan or drinking or have been drinking don’t drive. Call a sober driver, call a cab, take any precaution you can in order to avoid getting behind the wheel if you choose to enjoy your holiday with a drink.”

As part of this campaign, police will be increasing patrols. Those who are caught drinking and driving could face jail time, fines, loss of driver’s license, towing fees, and other expenses which, on average, total approximately $10,000.

Chief Richardson encourages residents to follow these tips to keep their holiday safe:

Even one drink can impair your judgement and increase the risk of getting arrested for driving drunk or having a crash.
Plan ahead to have a designated sober driver or use public transportation if you will be drinking. If you’ve been drinking, call a sober friend or family member, use public transportation, or call a taxi.
If you see a driver who appears to be drunk on the road, call the police immediately.
If someone you know has been drinking and is about to drive, take their keys and help them get home safely.

For more information, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov or contact the Dracut Police Department at 978-957-2123.

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