DUI arrests up 10 percent in 2019
Pennsylvania state troopers arrested 22,139 motorists statewide for drunken driving in 2019, which amounts to a 10 percent increase over 2018 when 20,143 were arrested, according to a new report.
Troopers also investigated 4,692 DUI-related crashes in 2019.
In Pennsylvania, a driver is legally impaired when the blood-alcohol content is measured at 0.08 percent.
“Impaired driving is a serious crime that occurs every day in Pennsylvania, often committed by people who would otherwise consider themselves to be law-abiding,” Col. Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, said in a press release.
Evanchick said that state police have a zero-tolerance approach to driving under the influence of alcohol and/ or illegal drugs.
“We remain committed to working with our local law enforcement partners to keep our roadways safe through a combination of education and enforcement,” Evanchick said.
He said that police are trained to detect impairment caused by illegal drugs.
In 2019, troopers in Troop L, which includes Reading, Hamburg, Jonestown, Frackville and Schuylkill Haven stations, made 1,029 drunken driving arrests in Berks, Lebanon and Schuylkill counties, and investigated 27 drunken driving crashes. Troopers in Troop L also evaluated 29 suspects for illegal drugs.
In 2019, the troopers statewide provided 2,300 traffic safety presentations at schools, businesses and community events.
Penalties for drunken driving range from probation to jail, and typically include license suspension.
State police community services officers regularly speak about DUI prevention and other traffic safety topics at schools, community events, and businesses. Their presentations are offered at no charge and may be requested by contacting your local state police station.
“PSP Community Services Officers staffed more than 2,300 traffic safety presentations in 2019 for a variety of audiences,” Evanchick said. “Our troopers would rather prevent DUI with age-appropriate, in-person education than arrest an impaired driver; or worse, respond to a DUI-related crash involving death or injury.”