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Wisconsin holiday travel, officers statewide ramp up enforcement

By FOX6 News Digital Team
Published  December 23, 2023 7:50am CST
Travel
FOX6 News Milwaukee

Officers statewide ramp up holiday enforcement

Officers across Wisconsin will step up enforcement to stop impaired driving during the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign this holiday season.

MILWAUKEE - Officers across Wisconsin will step up enforcement to stop impaired driving during the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, the Department of Transportation said. The national effort began Dec. 15 and runs through New Year’s Day.

While Wisconsin law enforcement agencies work together throughout the year to identify and prevent impaired driving, WisDOT said the high-visibility presence comes during the holiday season when impaired driving is typically a greater concern.

During the last holiday season, WisDOT said there were 470 crashes involving impaired drivers in Wisconsin. Those incidents killed five people and injured 178 others.

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The Wisconsin State Patrol works to assist local law enforcement agencies with obtaining specialty training to detect impairment and get dangerous drivers off the road. Almost 7,000 officers in Wisconsin are trained in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement and the state has among the most Drug Recognition Experts in the nation, WisDOT said – with nearly 400 officers who have completed DRE training.

Impaired driving has many consequences for a driver in addition to the potential for a crash, WisDOT said. OWI convictions can cost around $10,000, including fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurances rates and vehicle services. A driver can also lose their license and vehicle because of an OWI conviction.

Plan for a safe ride 

The State Patrol encourages drivers to put safety first during the holidays:

  • Identify a sober designated driver. If you’re feeling the effects of alcohol or another substance, you likely are over the 0.08 BAC limit and should not drive.
  • Take the bus, call a taxi, or use a rideshare service instead of getting behind the wheel. Use the Safe Ride program to find a ride home.
  • If you have a friend who is about to drink and drive, step in. Take the keys away and help them get home safely.
  • If you suspect a driver is impaired, safely gather as much info as you can about the vehicle, driver, and location. Then call 911.