Full Notification

From now through January 1st, law enforcement agencies statewide will be joining the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the 2024 high-visibility end of year holiday season "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" crackdown campaign.

During this time, officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols looking for motorists who may be driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. In addition to high-visibility enforcement, the campaign also helps to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving through public education tools including posters, banners, mobile video display signs, social media, radio announcements, and television advertisements.

574 fatal crashes on New Jersey roadways claimed the lives of 606 people last year. In more than 31 percent of those fatal crashes (182), a driver tested positive for alcohol and/or drugs Of the 42,514 motor vehicle fatalities across the United States in 2022, more than 31 percent (13,524) involved alcohol-impaired driving.

In addition to being illegal and dangerous, New Jersey laws for driving while intoxicated are strict and penalties are severe. Convicted offenders and their families are affected financially and in many other ways, with fines and costs often totaling thousands of dollars

Law enforcement agencies participating in the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" crackdown offer the following advice:

• If you plan on drinking, have a designated driver, someone who will not drink alcohol, before going out.

• If you’ve been drinking, ask a sober friend to drive you home or utilize a taxi or ridesharing service.

• Spend the night where the activity is held.

• Report impaired drivers to law enforcement. In New Jersey, drivers may dial #77 to report an impaired or aggressive driver.

• Always buckle up, every ride, regardless of your seating position in the vehicle. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.

• Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.

Launched in 1999, this program works to combat impaired driving during some of the busiest travel times of the year, including the Labor Day and the end-of-year holiday seasons. As part of the program, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety provides grants to law enforcement agencies to help run the campaign. The remaining agencies are asked to support the crackdown with their own resources and by raising awareness. The ultimate goal of the campaign is high visibility enforcement backed by a strong consistent message to the public.