Howell Gets $10,500 Grant For Holiday Sober Driving Campaign

HOWELL, NJ — The Howell Township Police Department was awarded a $10,500 grant to enforce its holiday safe driving campaign.

The money will be used to pay for Saturday patrols and high-visibility sobriety checkpoints during the month-long enforcement effort.

Howell is among 106 law enforcement agencies in the state getting one of these grants. In total, $632,520 were given out, according to Office of The Attorney General.

The "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" traffic safety enforcement campaign launched Friday and will continue through Jan. 1, 2022. Officers across the state will step up traffic patrols and conduct sobriety checkpoints.

“Let me be clear – those who drive while impaired will face serious consequences,” said Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck. “Getting behind the wheel drunk or high puts the driver, their passengers, and the public in jeopardy. Our traffic safety campaign will help everyone to enjoy the holiday season—responsibly.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, crashes involving drunk drivers accounted for nearly one-third of all traffic crash fatalities nationwide in 2019, claiming the lives of 10,142 that year. Drunk driving fatalities occurred more frequently during the Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday periods that year than during any other holiday period.

Last year, the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over holiday campaign resulted in 590 driving under the influence arrests statewide. Participating police agencies issued 3,121 and 817 summonses for speeding and seat belt violations, respectively.

“Driving drunk or high, especially during the busy holiday travel season, is selfish, dangerous, and illegal,” said Director of Division of Highway Traffic Safety Eric Heitmann. “The goal of our Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over holiday campaign is to protect the motoring public and save lives by raising awareness of the risks and penalties associated with impaired driving and cracking down on violators.”

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