State Police To Ramp Up DUI Patrols Before Holiday
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Law enforcement officials from six states are joining forces and they all have the same message: do not drink and drive.
Officials said their mission is to keep drivers sober and safe behind the wheel leading up to the Fourth of July holiday.
If your weekend or Fourth of July plans involve alcohol, don't even think about getting behind the wheel.
Police from six states including, West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania are ready to crack down on drunk drivers.
"We're going to try to take these drunk drivers off of the roadway before they have the opportunity to injure or kill not only themselves, but other innocent motorists," Pennsylvania State Police Maj. Tim Mercer said.
Troopers from different agencies met at the Bridgeville rest stop along Interstate 79 to spread the word about their effort.
They will increase police presence, conduct roving DUI patrols plus, they'll set up a number of sobriety checkpoints.
Here in Pennsylvania troopers from every troop in the Commonwealth will take part.
Troopers in West Virginia said these efforts seem to be working.
"We've seen a trend that once they know we are out there, we are doing checkpoints, we've got troopers out there on the interstates, on the secondary roads, believe it or not, the DUI arrests, sometimes on the holidays, we see a trend that has gone down because of these efforts," West Virginia State Police Capt. James Merrill said.
If an arrest isn't enough to discourage you from making a bad decision, think about the other consequences.
"Don't do it. It's not worth it. You are going to potentially ruin your life and the lives of others by making a stupid mistake," Maj. Mercer said.
"The best policy is if you are drinking at all, don't get behind the wheel. Get a designated driver," Capt. Merrill said.
This won't be the last time troopers from the six states will be working together either. They already have an event, similar to this one, planned for late September.
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