New Bedford Cracking Down On Impaired Drivers

Beginning next week as of August 15, 2012, the New Bedford Police Department is joining up with 128 other law enforcement agencies in a nationwide movement to suppress driving under the influence. The most common personal injury claims are for car accidents.

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” movement will take place from August 15 th to September 3, 2012 and the New Bedford Police will be going after any person that consumes alcohol or takes drugs and gets behind the wheel.This armament is being funded by a federal grant through the (EOPSS-HSD) or Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division.

Did you know that on average, someone is killed every 51 minutes in the United States because of a drunk driving accident? On holiday weekends such as the Fourth of July or Memorial Day weekend these statistics become even more shocking.

Impaired driving is one of the top leading crimes in America and it causes a devastating number of fatalities each year. In 2009, there were 10,839 deaths as a result of driver’s operating a vehicle with a .08 BAC level or higher. This accounts for 32% or one third of all traffic-related deaths in America. In that same year, more than 1.4 million drivers were taken into custody for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

It is very unfortunate when the lives of innocent, law-abiding citizens are cut short because of someone’s negligence and blatant disregard for the safety of others. Over the next few weeks,
the New Bedford Police department will be aggressively pursuing anyone driving under the influence and will make the necessary arrests.

There are severe penalties and consequences for people once they are convicted of driving under the influence. Depending on their BAC level or if they caused an accident, they will have a misdemeanor or felony on their criminal record for life. The defendant will face jail or prison time, steep fines, a lengthy probationary period, license suspension, mandatory community service and substance abuse classes. With a second offense, it is required that an Interlock Ignition Device is installed into the vehicle so it will not start if the driver is over the legal limit.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one because someone decided to drive under the influence, then it is imperative that you contact a personal injury lawyer in your area. The Law Offices of John S. Moffa proudly serves the residents of Cape Cod, New Bedford and Plymouth Massachusetts. We want to remind everyone else, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over!”

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