Dover – A total of one hundred people were arrested statewide last week for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol and/or drugs. Of those 100 individuals, six (6) were arrested by the New Castle County DUI Task Force at a checkpoint conducted in Newport over the holiday weekend. Police officers also arrested 16 individuals for drugs, apprehended 2 wanted persons, made 1 underage drinking arrest and also made 5 other criminal arrests. Statewide, there have been 1,999 DUI arrests made in Delaware this year.

DUI checkpoints continue and are scheduled for:

Friday July 10 – Newark – (NCCo DUI Task Force)
Saturday July 11 – Dover – (DSP Troop 3)

Checkpoint Strikeforce is a regional sobriety checkpoint campaign aimed at arresting DUI offenders by using high visibility enforcement to deter those who would otherwise choose to drink and drive. The campaign is a six month long effort coordinated locally by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and involves setting up weekly DUI checkpoints & patrols statewide. Delaware had 4,086 DUI arrests statewide for 2014.

For a list of DUI checkpoints in your area text CHECKPOINT to 99000 or for a list of cabs text TAXI to 99000. More information and resources on Checkpoint Strikeforce can be found at www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.ArrriveAliveDE.com. Follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe, Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE, and subscribe to YouTube channel DelawareOHS.

Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign begins this weekend

Dover – Heading out for happy hour? Stopping off for a nightcap? Getting one last drink before last call? All those terms take on a whole new meaning when you get stopped for driving under the influence (DUI).  Happy hour is now sitting in jail waiting for bail, nightcap is now taking a breathalyzer test, and last call is your only call from jail.  Don’t let a DUI redefine your night.  The Delaware Office of Highway Safety along with law enforcement across the state are cracking down on impaired driving and launching the 15^th Annual Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign this holiday weekend.  Last year alcohol was involved in 54 percent of the 111 fatal crashes, which resulted in 67 individuals killed.

The first checkpoint of the season is scheduled for:

            Friday July 3rd – Newport – (NcCo DUI Task Force)

Sobriety checkpoints will be scheduled to take place each week during the six month long Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign along with DUI saturation patrols.  There will also be additional enforcement during peak holiday times including Labor Day, Halloween, and the month of December.

Fortunately Delaware has seen a decrease in the number of alcohol-related fatalities this year compared to this time last year.  Twenty (20) of this year’s 48 traffic deaths (43%) have been alcohol-related.  At this time last year there were 63 fatalities and 63% involved alcohol.

The New Castle County DUI Task Force will again be sworn in by the Delaware Attorney General to conduct sobriety checkpoints throughout the county during the campaign.  The swearing-in ceremony provides the legal justification necessary to allow police officers to make DUI arrests in towns outside their own jurisdiction.

Delaware State Police will participate and also conduct checkpoints in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties. Dover PD will conduct checkpoints once a month in their town jurisdiction.

The campaign’s enforcement activities will be supplemented by an all new intense public awareness and education campaign that highlight the fact that a DUI can redefine your night and your life. Paid messages will be placed on T.V. and radio, billboards, print, online, Pandora, movie theater ads, and store floor clings. See website www.ArriveAliveDE.com/DriveSober.  Paid messages will also be included in Spanish print and radio ads.  OHS will continue to tally the total number of DUI arrests made each week in Delaware and display the total on billboards in New Castle County and Sussex County and on the website www.ArriveAliveDE.com/DriveSober.  OHS’s corporate partners will also receive flyers, posters, and table tents to display and help spread the message.

Those convicted of a first time DUI offense in Delaware may spend up to 1 year in prison, and will lose their license, attend an 8-week DUI treatment program and pay thousands of dollars in court, treatment, DMV, and lawyer’s fees (approximately $6,300).

Checkpoint Strikeforce is a regional sobriety checkpoint campaign aimed at arresting DUI offenders by using high visibility enforcement to deter those who would otherwise choose to drink and drive.  The campaign is a six month long effort coordinated locally by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and involves setting up weekly DUI checkpoints & patrols statewide.  Delaware had 4,086 DUI arrests statewide for 2014.

For a list of DUI checkpoints in your area text CHECKPOINT to 99000 or for a list of cabs text TAXI to 99000.  More information and resources on Checkpoint Strikeforce can be found at www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.DUIRealTime.com. Follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe, Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE, and subscribe to YouTube channel DelawareOHS.

Office of Highway Safety announces St. Patrick’s DUI Enforcement

Dover – St. Patrick’s Day brings to mind shamrocks, leprechauns, pots of gold, and good luck. But don’t rely on luck to can save you from a drunk-driving crash. The New Castle County DUI Task Force will be conducting a DUI checkpoint near Wilmington this Saturday the 14th to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day festivities in the city. Last year, police arrested a total of 48 individuals for DUI during St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

Lisa Shaw, Office of Highway Safety DUI program coordinator offered this advice to partygoers: “Get ahead of the decision this year. If you know you’re going to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with alcohol, then figure out a plan in advance that will get you home safely. Don’t wait until you’re too buzzed to decide, and don’t ever ride with a friend who’s been drinking.” Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving, so if you have anything to drink be sure you can count on a sober friend, a taxi, or public transportation. Not drinking? Maybe this St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll be the saint who drives your friend’s home. Remember, friends don’t let friends drive drunk.

Let’s make 2015 different. Use this party-planning checklist to stay safe this St. Patrick’s Day.

• NOW: Even if you don’t have plans yet, plan to drive sober or designate a sober driver. Save the number of a taxi company in your phone so you always have a backup plan. You can find taxi numbers on our website http://www.duirealtime.com/Taxi.

• WHEN YOU MAKE PLANS: A sober driver is an essential part of any party plan. Once you know where you’ll celebrate, decide whether you’re drinking or You can only choose one.
• ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY: Before you take your first sip of green beer, leave your keys at home or give them to a friend. If you’re the designated driver, don’t drink. Enjoy non-alcoholic beverages and brag about your VIP (very important partygoer) status online using the hashtag #designateddriver. Only drive sober or ride with a sober driver.
• EVERY DAY: If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely. If you know people who are about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Drunk driving has fatal consequences. If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 911 immediately. You could save a life.

In 2014, 54 percent (67 of 124) of all vehicle deaths in Delaware were alcohol related.  Since January 1^st of this year, there have been seven (7) alcohol-related traffic deaths compared to eight (8) at this time last year.  For more information on OHS’s year round DUI efforts please visit our website at www.ohs.delaware.gov .

Enforcement focus is on DUI, Speed, and Seat Belts.

 Dover – If you listen closely, instead of saying “Gobble, Gobble, Gobble”, the Thanksgiving turkey is reminding all to “Buckle, Buckle, Buckle” up this holiday season. The Office of Highway Safety also wants to remind motorists as they travel this holiday season to buckle up, be patient and slow down, and, if partaking in some holiday spirits, use a designated driver. Delaware law enforcement will be on high alert this holiday to make sure you arrive safely to your destination. Historically, Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time of the year, putting more people on the road, and unfortunately increasing the likelihood of crashes

There is one DUI checkpoint scheduled for the Thanksgiving holiday as follows:

Wednesday Nov. 26th                        Wilmington (New Castle County DUI Task Force)- Checkpoint

Since January 1^st of this year, 111 people have lost their lives on Delaware roadways in 98 fatal traffic crashes, compared to 95 people killed in 90 fatal traffic crashes this time last year. Speeding has contributed to 41% of the fatal traffic crashes to date. Alcohol consumption has attributed to 49% of the traffic deaths. Forty three percent (43%) of vehicle occupants killed this year were not wearing their seat belts.

Wednesday, November 26th marks the beginning of the Delaware Office of Highway Safety’s annual Safe Family Holiday Campaign. Safe Family Holiday enforcement activities over the next six weeks will include 30 law enforcement agencies statewide conducting overtime patrols focusing on speeding, impaired driving, and seat belt use. Enforcement will supplement already scheduled Checkpoint Strikeforce DUI checkpoints. The Safe Family Holiday Campaign is OHS’ major traffic safety initiative for the holiday season. It includes a combination of high visibility enforcement, public awareness activities, and media messaging aimed at stopping impaired and other dangerous drivers.

Over the last decade, several public awareness activities have become Safe Family Holiday traditions including the OHS “Mocktail” party and the DUI Tree project. “Mocktails” are non-alcoholic cocktail parties, where safety information, responsible party hosting tips, and samples of “smart” party foods will be provided for attendees. OHS will have several mocktail events this holiday season with seven corporate partners across the state. Find recipes and safety tips for your own mocktail from the OHS holiday mocktail booklet http://1.usa.gov/1FmVWOb.

The DUI Tree memorializes alcohol-related deaths and injuries during the campaign. Colored light bulbs on the tree represent each victim killed or injured in an impaired driving crash. DUI Trees are sponsored by four highway safety corporate partners and are set up the week of Thanksgiving. OHS has created a virtual DUI Tree for the public to view at www.DUIRealTime.com. Last year, 2 people were killed and 15 were injured in alcohol-related crashes in Delaware during the holiday season.

For more information on these or any of our other Safe Family Holiday campaign efforts follow us on Twitter @DEHighwaySafe, visit our website for updates at www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.DUIRealTime.com/Safe-Holidays or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Dover– According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), if drunk driving was eliminated more than 10,000 lives would be spared nationally each year. That is why the Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) and law enforcement agencies are participating in the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” high-visibility enforcement campaign that is running from August 15 through September 1. There will be increased public awareness and enforcement to send the strong message that drunk driving will not be tolerated. The goal of the campaign is to remind motorists that drinking and driving is dangerous and will not be tolerated.

Increased impaired driving enforcement for the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign includes DUI saturation patrols by the following agencies; Blades PD, Bridgeville PD, Camden PD, Clayton PD, Delaware City PD, Dewey Beach PD, Dover PD, Elsmere PD, Felton PD, Georgetown PD, Greenwood PD, Harrington PD, Laurel PD, Lewes PD, Middletown PD, Milford PD, Millsboro PD, Milton PD, New Castle City PD, New Castle County PD, Newark PD, Newport PD, Ocean View PD, Rehoboth Beach PD, Seaford PD, Smyrna PD, Wilmington PD, Wyoming PD, and DSP.

Last year in Delaware, alcohol use was involved 43% of the 96 fatal crashes. Of all the drivers killed last year, 41% were under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Currently, Delaware has experienced 28 alcohol related fatal crashes that resulted in 33 lives lost. Last week 72 individuals were arrested for DUI in Delaware bringing the total DUI arrests statewide for 2014 to 2,486.

In addition to the national crackdown, Delaware is currently coordinating the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign to combat impaired driving. Law enforcement agencies are participating in DUI checkpoints each weekend across the state. One DUI checkpoint is scheduled to take place Friday August 16th, in the Seaford area and will be coordinated by the Delaware State Police (DSP).

Across the nation in 2012, 147 drunk-driving fatalities occurred over Labor Day weekend (6 p.m. Friday to 5:59 a.m. Tuesday). To put it in perspective, throughout the year someone is killed in an alcohol-impaired-driving crash every 51 minutes, on average. Over the Labor Day weekend, that statistic jumps to one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 34 minutes. And not surprisingly, nighttime is the worst, with almost half (46%) of all nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) traffic fatalities involving a drunk driver during the Labor Day holiday weekend.

For more information visit www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.DUIrealtime.com and follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe and Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.