NKyTribune staff
If you choose to drink and drive in Erlanger and Elsmere – beware.
The Erlanger and Elsmere Police Departments have joined with law enforcement throughout the nation for the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which began on Aug. 17 and extends through September 3.
Lt. Sterling
The strong nationwide impaired driving crackdown will include high-visibility enforcement, high-profile events, and will be supported by national paid advertising, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb- impaired driving.
“We aggressively watch for drunk drivers year-round,” Erlanger Lt. Jon Sterling said. “But by joining this effort, we will make Erlanger’s and Elsmere’s roadways safer for everyone during the heavily-traveled Labor Day holiday.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on average, there is one alcohol impaired driving-related fatality every 50 minutes across America. Also, high-visibility enforcement such as the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign reduces alcohol-impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent.
There were more than 3,900 collisions involving alcohol in Kentucky last year, resulting in more than 1,800 injuries and 121 fatalities. During the Labor Day holiday weekend, there were 57 collisions involving alcohol, resulting in 22 injuries and three fatalities.
“We hope the campaign will serve as a reminder that those who choose to drink should never get behind the wheel,” Lt. Sterling said. “But if someone does choose to drive while drunk, we will arrest them. No warnings. No excuses.”
Drivers can be arrested for driving while impaired for being under the influence of a substance other than alcohol.
On the morning of August 15, a woman driver was involved in an accident with a school bus, with nine children on board. The children were not injured but the woman and the school bus driver were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
She was charged with driving under the influence and nine counts of wanton endangerment.
Erlanger police confirmed that she was charged with being under the influence of a substance other than alcohol.
Last year, the Kentucky Legislature passed Senate Bill 133 which requires repeat DUI offenders to blow into an ignition interlock device, which is installed on the vehicle. The vehicle will not start if the person’s blood-alcohol concentration exceeds a 0.02 level.
First-time DUI offenders are not required to have the device installed unless there is an aggravating circumstance, such as speeding or driving drunk with a child in the car.
“Driving impaired is simply not worth the risk. So don’t take the chance,” Lt. Sterling said. “Remember, we will be out in force, so ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.’”
View the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety’s Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over video.
Visit the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign Headquarters or visit the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety.
