Police Cracking Down on Impaired Driving Through Labor Day

As parties pick up and people squeeze out the last bit of fun in the summer, police in Anne Arundel County are letting people know drivers should be safe—and sober—when they get behind the wheel.

From Aug. 16 through Labor Day weekend, officers will be out in force as part of the statewide  "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, looking to take drunk drivers off the road.

"Impaired driving is a public health issue, a highway safety priority and it’s a crime," said Chief Kevin Davis, in a department press release. "By joining the statewide effort, we will make Maryland’s roadways safer for everyone."

Between 2008 and 2012, 875 people died in the state of Maryland from crashes involving impaired drivers, and more than 4,000 were injured, according to police.

The most recent statistics show more than 9,800 people died in the U.S. from impaired driving in 2011, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"Being impaired and under the influence affects your ability to safely operate a vehicle," Davis said. "It also affects your judgment and good sense about whether you can, or should drive."

As part of the statewide campaign, advertisements on billboards, gas pumps and transit shelters will remind people to avoid facing jail time, license suspension, attorney fees and possible death by staying sober and alert while driving.

For more information on the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, follow this link.