Leesville Police Department will once again be partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission (LHSC), and law enforcement agencies across the state to get drunk drivers off the roads and help save lives. The high-visibility national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, runs this year through September 2, 2024. During this period, Leesville Police Department as well as other local law enforcement will show zero tolerance for impaired driving. Increased state and national messages about the dangers of driving impaired, coupled with increased enforcement and increased officers on the road, aim to drastically reduce impaired driving on our nation’s roadways.

According to LHSC, operating a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol or other impairing substances remains a major cause of vehicle crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities in Louisiana. According to FARS data, in 2021, 31% of the motor vehicle crashes in Louisiana were alcohol-related, and the number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities was 301. In 2022, the percentage of alcohol-related crashes in Louisiana decreased to 29% but remains a critical issue. The number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2022 was 267.

This Labor Day weekend, do not let the festivities turn into fatalities. Remember that aside from the obvious risks of killing yourself or someone else, driving impaired can also lead to serious punitive consequences. An impaired driving arrest can mean time in jail, loss of your license and steep financial expenses. We are hoping that drivers in our community get the message and take some simple steps to prevent a tragedy. There is always another way home. The Leesville Police Department is reminding drivers to plan ahead and designate a sober driver before attending any events. Planning a sober ride home is the right choice. Help us put an end to this senseless behavior.

Through LHSC grant funding, Leesville Police Department will be conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrol during this time, in an effort to reduce crashes resulting from impaired driving.  Remember, there’s no excuse for impaired driving. If you choose to break the law, Leesville Police Department will see you before you see them. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.