N. Wildwood Receives Grant to Combat Drunk Driving

TRENTON — The North Wildwood Police Department was one of nearly 100 law enforcement agencies throughout the state, and the only one in Cape May County, to land a $5,000 drunk driving enforcement grant.
State Highway Traffic Safety Director Pam Fischer Dec. 12 announced that law enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints during the upcoming holiday season, as part of the “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” year-end, drunk driving crackdown.
According to a release, between now and Jan. 2, police agencies throughout the state will participate in this national initiative designed to combat drunk driving during one of the most dangerous travel times of the year.
As part of the initiative, which has been in place since 1999, the Division will be providing grants of $5,000 each to 92 law enforcement agencies. However, all towns and cities have received information on the program and are being asked to run checkpoints and patrols during this time period and report their results to the division.
“We’re hoping to achieve 100 percent participation by police agencies across the State,” Fischer said in the release.
“This is a critical law enforcement program that can save lives during a time of the year when impaired driving traditionally increases by nearly 10 percent. The initiative calls attention not only to the serious fines and penalties drunk drivers can face, but the grave danger these motorists pose to everyone on the road.”
North Wildwood Police Chief Robert A. Matteucci told the Herald he plans to run extra patrols on the city’s streets when most drunk drivers are likely to be out. But he will not have any sobriety checkpoints due to the residential nature of the resort community.
Impaired drivers kill nearly 18,000 people on our nation’s roadways each year. In 2007, 205 people were killed as a result of alcohol-related crashes in New Jersey. That number represents 28 percent of the 724 traffic fatalities reported in the state.
Between December 21, 2007 and January 2, 2008, there were 23 fatalities on New Jersey roadways, with 14 of those individuals killed in crashes that were alcohol or drug-related.
In addition, Fischer noted that 10 of the individuals killed during that same time period last year were pedestrians, adding that all motorists should remain alert to the increase in pedestrian traffic during the holidays.
“By working together, we can ensure that pedestrians, motorists and their passengers are safe this holiday season,” Fischer added. “Simply by buckling up, every ride; driving the posted speed limit; avoiding distractions; and never drinking and driving, we can prevent crashes, injuries and deaths.”
Fischer noted that during the 2007 year-end DWI crackdown, 2,038 individuals were arrested for drunk driving. Law enforcement agencies also issued 4,407 seat belt citations, 298 summonses for failure to use a child restraint, and 12,316 speeding citations during last year’s holiday crackdown.
Motorists are asked this holiday season to subscribe to the pledge of the Ensign John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers: drive sober, be a designated driver and don’t let your friends drive drunk. Under the effort, local businesses and community groups, law enforcement agencies, and schools work together to keep drunk drivers off the road. Started in New Jersey by the Elliott family following the tragic death of their son John in a head-on collision with a drunk driver, the campaign has become a national model for preventing drunk driving.
Individuals attending a holiday celebration are also reminded to:
• Use mass transit or a cab service to get to or from your destination.
• Report impaired drivers in New Jersey by dialing #77. You’ll be asked to provide the location and a brief description of the vehicle.
• Always buckle up, every ride.
• Never let a friend drive drunk. If you know someone who is impaired and about to drive, take their keys and help them make arrangements to arrive home safely.
Additional information on the “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” year-end crackdown is available on the Division of Highway Traffic Safety’s web site, at www.njsaferoads.com.
A list of police agencies receiving grants for the mobilization can be found at www.nj.gov/oag/hts/grants/grantees.html.