Local police have zero tolerance for impaired drivers

The Willows Police Department this week announced a joint collaboration with other police agencies nationwide to crack down on impaired driving from Aug. 15–Sept. 1.

Law enforcement plans to spend more than $50 million nationwide on the traffic safety program dubbed, Drunk Driving: Over the Limit, Under Arrest.

“Our message is simple and unwavering. If we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions,” Willows Police Chief Bill Spears said in a prepared statement. “Even if you beat the odds and walk away from an impaired-driving crash alive, motorists should be aware that the consequences of driving while impaired could still virtually destroy your life.”

Nationwide, more than $30 million in State and Federal funds will be spent in support of the high-visibility crackdown through television and radio ads targeted to young male drivers, who are the most common perpetrators of this deadly crime. Another $20 million will be spent on extra police enforcement — including saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints — during the crackdown period.

In every state, as well as the District of Columbia, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or more.

According to the latest data, 32 percent of motor vehicle driving fatalities involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 or above — an average of one fatality every 39 minutes, Spears said.

“All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life.” Spears said. “Because we’re committed to ending the carnage, we’re intensifying enforcement during the crackdown. We’ll be especially vigilant during high-risk nighttime hours when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” Spears said.

In 2006 alone, nearly 13,500 people died in crashes in which the driver or motorcycle rider was legally impaired, according to the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Among them were 306 children under age 15 — innocent victims of crashes that could have been avoided.

The Willows Police Department said its officers will aggressively look for all impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone they find driving while impaired — regardless of age.

According to the Willows Police Department, violators often face jail time, lose their driver licenses, or being sentenced to use an ignition interlock, causing insurance rates to increase. Other financial setbacks include attorney fees, court costs, lost work time, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends, and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation.

“Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences. So don’t take the chance. Remember, if you are over the limit, you’re under arrest,” Spears said.

For more information on the crackdown, visit the High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Headquarters at www.StopImpairedDriving.org or contact the Willows Police Department.