Rail
Forney police looking for drunk drivers

Aug 15, 2008

Forney police are taking part in a national anti-drunk driving campaign from Aug. 15 through Sept. 1.

Forney police chief Rick Barnes said the city’s officers will be aggressively looking for all impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest any impaired driver -- regardless of age, vehicle type, or time of day.
“All too often, innocent law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life. Because we’re committed to ending the carnage, we’re intensifying enforcement during the crackdown. We’ll be especially vigilant during high-risk nighttime hours when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” Chief Barnes said.

In 2006 alone, nearly 13,500 people died in crashes in which the driver or motorcycle rider was legally impaired, according to the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Among them were 306 children under age 15 — innocent victims of wrecks that could have been avoided.

Across the country, more than $30 million in state and federal funds will be spent in support of the high-visibility crackdown through television and radio ads targeted to young male drivers, who are the most common perpetrators of this deadly crime. Another $20 million will be spent on extra police enforcement — including saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints — during the crackdown period.
More than 10,000 police agencies will participate in this year’s mid-August through Labor Day crackdown, including law enforcement officers representing every State, the District of Columbia, and many U.S. cities and towns.

Violators often face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, or are required to use a device that won’t let the vehicle start if the driver is drunk.

Insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends, and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation.

“Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences. So don’t take the chance. Remember, if you are over the limit, you’re under arrest,” Chief Barnes said.


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