Crime & Safety

Towns Stepping Up Enforcement of Drunk Driving For Holiday Season

Several Monmouth County towns were awarded grants to implement the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.

By Christopher Sheldon

Several Monmouth County police departments have been awarded grant money to participate in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over initiative in an effort to target drunk or impaired drivers during the holiday season.

During the 2012 holiday season the initiative resulted in 1,555 driving while intoxicated (DWI) arrests statewide, with 42 of those arrests taking place in Monmouth County, between Dec. 7, 2012 and Jan. 2, 2013, according to a release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

“The statistics are sobering enough," Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said. "The holidays are a time to create lasting memories with your family and friends, not destroy family and friends who will be forced to recall the horrific death of a loved one who wasn’t sober and got behind the wheel of a vehicle."

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“No family should have to face the death of another family member during the holiday season, or any time of the year for that matter," Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden added. "The message is clear: ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’, so the ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ initiative should simply resonate with anyone who operates any motor vehicle this holiday season."

The New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety (NJHTS) awarded 166 law enforcement agencies across the state, including 19 in Monmouth County, with $4,400 grants to offset overtime costs for enforcement activities from Dec. 6, 2013 through Jan. 2, 2014 as part of the initiative. The 144 grant awards was an increase over the 95 grants awarded for the 2012 holiday season.

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Police Departments in the county, working in conjunction with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office DWI Task Force, will increase enforcement efforts with saturation patrols and high-visibility sobriety checkpoints throughout the holiday season.

The following Monmouth County towns were awarded grants this year:

• Aberdeen

• Asbury Park

• Brielle 

• Eatontown

• Englishtown 

• Freehold Township 

• Hazlet

• Highlands 

• Holmdel 

• Keansburg 

• Marlboro 

• Neptune City 

• Neptune Township 

• Ocean

• Oceanport 

• Spring Lake Heights 

• Union Beach 

• Wall 

• West Long Branch

The 2012 holiday season “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” initiative resulted in 42 DWI arrests, 147 violations for failure to wear a seatbelt, 137 people were caught driving on the revoked list, 26 uninsured drivers were cited, 151 speeding violations were issued and 45 reckless driving citations were written as part of the increased enforcement activities.

The stepped up enforcement actions also resulted in 85 felony arrests, 69 drug arrests and the apprehension of fugitives.

First time offenders with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level of 0.10 percent and higher face a fine between $300-$500, the suspension of their driving privileges for up to one year, up to 30 days in jail, and additional penalties.

First time offenders with a BAC between 0.08 percent and 0.10 percent who are guilty of a DWI offense can expect a fine between $250 -$400, their driver’s license suspended for three months, up to 30 days in jail and additional penalties.

Subsequent offenses can include fines up to $1,000, increased jail time, up to 10 years driver’s license suspension, and community service and a period of up to three years with an ignition Interlock once their driving privileges are restored.


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