Drive Sober OR…
Get Pulled July 4th Holidays
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over This 4th of July Holiday
The 4th of July Holiday season is a time to enjoy fireworks and show
country pride, but is also traditionally one of the more dangerous times on the
road.
To keep families safe this Independence Day, many Inland Empire cities’of Sheriff/
Police Departments will have increased enforcement focused on impaired driving
during the week July 4th thru
Sunday July 7th.
According to preliminary data from the California Highway Patrol, seven (7) people were killed and 73
injured in alcohol-related crashes statewide on July 4th, 2018. Every
deadly crash involved a driver who had been drinking.
Drinking and driving is a bad combination.
The consequences are abundantly clear, yet people still make the poor decision
to drive after drinking. Please, be smart and make this 4th of July
holiday a fun and memorable one.”
If you are headed to 4th of July
parties, designate a sober driver
before heading out for the evening. If you are hosting a party, offer nonalcoholic drinks for designated
sober drivers and monitor who is drinking. See
people leaving who have been drinking? Check
how they are getting home. Offer to let them stay the night if a sober driver
is not available to take them home.
Driving with just a buzz doesn’t cut it. With
the rise in ride-share options, there really is no excuse for driving impaired.
The average cost of a DUI arrest is
approximately $13,500, accounting for vehicle impound fees, fines, attorney
fees, auto insurance hikes, and other penalties. Our Departments also remind
residents that prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and marijuana
can all be impairing and land you a DUI, especially in combination with alcohol
and/or other drugs.
Funding for DUI enforcement was provided by
a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department