The Merrill Police Department will be out in force along with hundreds of other law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin for the annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown on drunken drivers from Aug. 16 to Sept. 2.
Drunken driving is one of the most prevalent and deadly crimes in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Last year, 223 people were killed and nearly 3,000 injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes in Wisconsin. There were nearly 27,000 convictions for drunken driving in the state last year.
“Drunken driving is entirely preventable. You can designate a sober driver or find an alternative way home. But if you make the irresponsible choice to drive while impaired, our officers will be on the lookout, and we will arrest you,” says MPD Captain Corey Bennett. “The devastating consequences of a drunken driving arrest include major embarrassment, expensive penalties, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device, and possibly jail time. Driving drunk will be a decision you’ll regret the rest of your life, if you are lucky enough to live.”
To help prevent drunken driving, the Zero In Wisconsin traffic safety initiative has a free
“Drive Sober” mobile app, which includes features like “Find a Ride,” blood alcohol estimator and designated driver selector to help you get home safely and achieve zero preventable deaths on Wisconsin roadways. The Drive Sober app can be downloaded by visiting zeroinwisconsin.gov.