Drunk Driving Crackdown Begins In Morris County

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Officials around Morris County have started their annual holiday impaired driving crackdown and have received money from the state to do so.

On Friday, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS) announced the kickoff of the annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” year-end holiday campaign.

The effort, running through Jan. 1, is aimed at reducing the potential for fatal and serious accidents on New Jersey roads by heightening awareness about impaired driving.

More than $795,000 in grant funding is distributed among 132 police agencies in New Jersey for the campaign.

Locally, four towns across Morris County received funding for the campaign.

• Dover $7,000
• Jefferson $7,000
• Parsippany-Troy Hills $7,000
• Randolph $7,000

Last year, 69 people died in crashes involving an impaired driver between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, officials said.

The extra financial boost will help police conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints, officials said.

Platkin said the additional funds "will bolster enforcement efforts from our law enforcement partners to make our roads safer, safeguard families, and ensure everyone gets to celebrate the holidays surrounded by their loved ones.

This article contains additional reporting by Michelle Rotuno-Johnson.