Arkansas State Police to step up patrols ahead of July 4 holiday

The Arkansas State Police will participate in the statewide Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over operation this holiday weekend.

DWI enforcement begins Friday and will continue through July 4.

Stepped-up patrols among state, county and city law enforcement agencies will have officers on the lookout for drunken drivers. Motorists should expect more sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols involving a unified police force working to keep the highways and streets safe.

“If you choose to drink and drive, the chances are greater that you will be caught during the upcoming holiday,” said Col. Bill Bryant, director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor’s Highway Safety representative. “Making the choice to drink and drive can be deadly. It’s irresponsible behavior, and we will be out in full force to put a stop to it.”

Statistics show that drunken driving is a deadly epidemic. During 2015, more than 10,250 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes. These deaths accounted for almost a third of traffic fatalities nationwide.

It is illegal in every state to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher, yet people continue to break the law and drive drunk.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign means zero tolerance for drunken driving. There are plenty of safe ways for you to get to your destination if you plan on drinking alcohol. The Arkansas Highway Safety Office recommends these alternatives to drinking and driving:

It’s never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation to get to your destination safely. Plan a safe way home before you leave.

If you’ve have been drinking, call a taxi or someone who is sober to get you home.

If you see a drunken driver on the road, call 911.

If you know someone who is about to drive or operate a motorcycle or any other vehicle while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.

Buckle up. Your seat belt is your best defense against the drunken driver.