STATEWIDE — Labor Day weekend is coming up, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Batesville Police Department are warning residents against drinking and driving. Both agencies are taking part in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement blitz.
From now until September 6, police agencies across the state will increase patrols and show zero tolerance for anyone caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
“Driving under the influence can have severe and, in some cases, tragic consequences, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out celebrating,” said Sgt. Adam Henson with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. “These tragedies are preventable, and we don’t want to lose anyone this year.”
The national traffic safety agency reports that about 28 people in the U.S. die in drunk driving crashes every day, and that drunk driving has been on the rise in Indiana.
Of the 898 traffic fatalities that occurred last year in the state, 17 percent were alcohol-related.
(Thanks to Bill Remeika for portions of this story)
