Florida, Georgia and Alabama Law Enforcement Conduct Joint Effort to Crackdown on Drunk and Unsafe Driving

CAMPBELLTON – Today law enforcement agencies in northwest Florida, south Alabama and south Georgia committed to work together over the Labor Day weekend to encourage safe driving and help save lives.  They joined thousands of law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation taking part in the “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest” crackdown on impaired driving, which launched on August 21 and runs through the Labor Day holiday. 

“Every year, and every holiday weekend, we continue to see far too many people suffer debilitating injuries and loss of life as a result of impaired driving,” said Randall Smith, traffic safety administrator, Florida Department of Transportation.  “This careless disregard for human lives must stop, which is why Florida and Alabama’s law enforcement agencies will be arresting impaired drivers wherever and whenever they find them during the Labor Day holiday.”

During Tuesday’s 18th annual “Hands Across the Border” event, law enforcement agencies from both states pledged to be vigilant in their enforcement efforts this holiday weekend.  Thirty-six people were killed on Florida roads over the 2008 Labor Day weekend – alcohol contributed to 12 of those deaths.  In an effort to reduce casualties, law enforcement is taking a “no tolerance” policy toward drivers who are caught impaired, unbuckled, or speeding. 

“It’s clear that too many people still don’t understand that impaired driving is no accident – nor is it a victimless crime,” said Sheriff Louis Roberts, Jackson County. “So our message to motorists is simple and unwavering: if you get caught driving while impaired, you will be arrested. No exceptions.”

Statewide in 2008, alcohol was involved in more than 22,200 crashes, 1,100 fatalities and 15,700 injuries.  In Jackson County, there were:

•75 alcohol-related crashes
•56 alcohol-related injuries
•7 alcohol-related fatalities

“Make no mistake, if we catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions. No excuses,” said Captain Terry Blackmon, Florida Highway Patrol. “We will continue to be out in force throughout the holiday weekend – conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and using undercover officers to get more drunk drivers off the road – and save lives that might otherwise be lost.”

The sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols will target high-risk nighttime hours.  Florida’s 2008 data shows that while the Friday 5 p.m. hour had the highest number of all types of crashes (3,038), the Saturday 2 a.m. hour had the highest number of fatal crashes (41).   

“If you are planning to drink alcohol with friends, designate a sober driver before going out, and give that person your keys,” said Chief Hayes Baggett, Marianna Police Department.  “If you’re impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit, or call a sober friend or family member – I promise, they’d rather get a call to come pick you up than a call saying that you’ve been killed.”

Law enforcement representatives from Florida, Georgia and Alabama met close to the states’ border to signify their collaborative efforts before beginning their respective enforcement endeavors.   Through the combined efforts of law enforcement and other highway safety partners, the “Hands Across the Border” campaign continues to help save lives through education, community awareness and enforcement.

For a complete list of county specific crash statistics, visit http://www.flhsmv.gov/hsmvdocs/CS2008.pdf

About Hands Across the Border
The “Hands Across the Border” events were created when safety advocates from across the southeast met to find ways to focus on the importance of using occupant protection devices.  In 1991, these advocates came together and created the first “Hands Across the Border” event in the Jacksonville, Florida, and Valdosta, Georgia areas.  In 1993, the state of Alabama joined the efforts.  Today, states across the country participate in similar annual events.  

About Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.
The national Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. impaired driving crackdown is a prevention program organized by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that focuses on combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity.   For more information, visit www.Stopimpaireddriving.org