For Immediate Release

Monday, Aug. 15, 2016

Contact: Tricia Tiedt
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: tricia@jgpr.net

Georgetown Police Launch “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign

GEORGETOWN – Due to the increase in drunk driving-related fatalities around the holidays each year, the Georgetown Police Department will join the 202 local law enforcement agencies and the Massachusetts State Police running extra patrols now 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).

“Drunk driving is a choice you make, and when you make that choice, people get injured and killed,” said Chief Cudmore. “If you plan on drinking at a party or a restaurant, take a taxi or public transportation or hand the keys over to a sober friend.”

The National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2014 in Massachusetts, 133 people were killed in crashes that involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Nationally, in December of 2013, there were 733 people killed in crashes involving at least one driver with a BAC of .08 or higher, and 23 of those deaths occurred on Christmas Day.

Getting caught drunk behind the wheel is no small matter: violators face jail time, fines, loss of driver’s license, towing fees, and other OUI expenses, totaling $10,000 on average. The cost of cab fare is nothing compared to a $10,000 OUI, the inconvenience of spending the holidays behind bars, or the cost of someone’s life.

The Georgetown Police Department also reminds motorists that wearing a safety belt is your best defense against drunk and aggressive drivers and your own mistakes.

“We can’t stand to see this tragic loss of life again and again,” added Chief Cudmore. “The hardest part of the job is making that house call and telling a family that their loved one is gone because someone chose to drink and drive. That’s why, leading up to the holidays, we will show zero tolerance for drunk drivers on the road. Please find a safe and sober ride home.”

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