DWI Patrols Heightened In Wall During St. Patrick's Day Period

WALL, NJ — The Wall Township Police Department will be increasing DWI patrols during the period of St. Patrick's Day, the department announced Monday.

On Sunday alone, there were four arrests made for driving while intoxicated. One woman, 55, from Farmingdale, was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

The department cited statistics that showed how holiday celebrations can end in tragedy.

During the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day period, 6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18, more than a third - 39 percent - of crash fatalities involved a drunk driver. From 2018 to 2022, 301 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day period nationwide, police said.

Overall in the country, 12,134 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2022. On average, one person was killed in a drunk driving crash every 45 minutes in 2022.

Police offered some tips to enjoy the holiday responsibly:

• Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Designate a sober driver or a call a ride service to get home safely.
• Never let a friend drive drunk. Arrange a safe and sober way for them to get home.
• If you’re the designated driver, make sure you don’t drink so you can keep that promise of safety to yourself and your passengers.
• Don't ride in a vehicle with a driver who has been drinking.
• Walking while intoxicated can also be deadly. In 2022, 30 percent of the pedestrians killed in traffic crashes had blood alcohol concentrations at or above .08. Pedestrians who have been drinking should also arrange for a sober ride or for a sober friend to walk them home.

If you’re hosting a party, police advise:

• Make sure all your guests designate their sober drivers in advance.
• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
• Stop serving alcohol a few hours before the end of the party and keep serving non-alcoholic drinks and food.
• Take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving after drinking and get them a ride home.

Police say if you see a drunk driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement to report the driver.