HPD joining ASP in Drive Sober holiday campaign

HOPE – The Hope Police Department will join state and local law enforcement agencies in Arkansas this holiday season to save lives by keeping alcohol and drug impaired drivers off the roads beginning Friday, December 13, 2019 through January1, 2020

“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is a “no excuses” “zero tolerance” operation in which law enforcement officers increase their patrol presence with additional emphasis directed to identifying and arresting drivers who may be impaired by alcohol or drugs.  The campaign also includes an increase in state and national messaging about the dangers of driving impaired.

It is illegal in all 50 states to operate a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.  Avoiding arrest and expenses of court fines and higher insurance rates begins with never getting into the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle while impaired.

Many drivers fail to realize the risks.  During 2018 there were 10,511 people killed in drunk driving crashes, one every 50 minutes, according to the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). 

 “The holiday season should be a happy time for our all our state’s citizens and visitors,” said Assistant Chief Kim Tomlin.  “We cannot underestimate the importance of sober driving and no matter what substance anyone has ingested; if you’re impaired, you should not be driving.”

“Driving impaired is a choice,” said Chief Tomlin. “I encourage everyone to make the right choice and find a sober driver if they have been drinking or ingested any drug that caused impairment.”