(WISCONSIN) Law enforcement agencies across the state are educating drivers on the dangers of impaired driving. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaigned kicks off Friday and runs until September 1st.
Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan says they will have more troopers and inspectors on the roads looking for signs of impairment leading into the Labor Day weekend.
There were over seven-thousand crashes involving alcohol or drug impairment in the state last year. Nearly half of all traffic fatalities involved either drugs or alcohol.
State officials note that there were more than 18,000 OWI convictions in 2024 which can cost around $10,000 and lead to higher insurance rates.
There are around eight-thousand officers across Wisconsin already trained in advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement and almost 400 drug recognition experts.
The Wisconsin State Patrol is highlighting these safety reminders for the motoring public:
· Select a sober designated driver ahead of time. If you’re feeling impaired, you are likely over the 0.08 Blood Alcohol Concentration limit and should not drive.
· Remember you have options: take the bus, call a taxi, use a rideshare or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
· Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if they’re impaired.
· If you suspect a driver is impaired, call 911.
