A Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over drunk driving enforcement campaign is now underway as police work to keep the roads safe for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Berrien County Undersheriff Chuck Heit tells us the sheriff’s department is teaming up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to have extra deputies out looking for drunk drivers. Heit has some advice for those who are celebrating.
“The biggest thing is to make a plan ahead of time,” Heit said. “To keep from bad decisions happening, make sure you’ve got a plan for a designated driver or someone else to drive so we don’t have any issues. We do see an increase in crashes and OWIs during the holiday season when different gatherings happen.”
Heit adds just because marijuana is legal now, that doesn’t mean you can drive buzzed.
“If you’re shown to be under the influence, whether it’s alcohol or drugs, you can be arrested for it.”
Eleven people died in crashes during the 2021 Christmas and New Year’s holiday period. In 2021, 32% of fatal crashes involved a drunk driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, and 24% of fatal crashes involved drugs. Heit says the extra patrols started Friday and will run through January 1.
