National “DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER” Holiday DUI Crackdown

Drunk Driver being pulled over by police cops

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a nation-wide campaign to combat intoxicated driving this holiday season.  The goal of the crackdown is to help police agencies throughout the country mobilize during the holiday season, as well as raise public awareness regarding the dangers of impaired driving through a combination of targeted media activities and high-visibility enforcement.  Because of the program, Federal funding will go towards helping police departments across the United States combat drunk driving.

The NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety has been an active participant in the program.  To that end, police departments across the state have been invited to support the initiative and apply for additional funding.  151 different departments received overtime enforcement grants that will allow them to receive around $5,500 in additional funding that can specifically be used between December 8, 2017 and January 1, 2018, just in time to catch any holiday inspired DUI or DWIs that occur every year due to holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve.  This means that you can expect even more DUI checkpoints and police officers looking for signs of inebriated driving in these areas during the 2017-2018 winter season.

Final List of Police Agencies Receiving Grants

The full list of Townships receiving additional overtime funding during the holidays are as follows:

CountyPolice DepartmentGrant Amount
AtlanticAtlantic Highlands PD$5,500.00
AtlanticEgg Harbor Twp PD$5,500.00
AtlanticGalloway PD$5,500.00
AtlanticHamilton PD$5,500.00
AtlanticHammonton PD$5,500.00
AtlanticMullica PD$5,500.00
AtlanticPleasantville PD$5,500.00
BergenBergenfield PD$5,500.00
BergenEdgewater PD$5,500.00
BergenEmerson PD$5,500.00
BergenFort Lee PD$5,500.00
BergenGarfield PD$5,500.00
BergenHackensack PD$5,500.00
BergenHillsdale PD$5,500.00
BergenHo-Ho-Kus PD$5,500.00
BergenLyndhurst PD$5,500.00
BergenMahwah PD$5,500.00
BergenMaywood PD$5,500.00
BergenNorth Arlington PD$5,500.00
BergenOradell PD$5,500.00
BergenPalisades Interstate Parkway PD$5,500.00
BergenParamus PD$5,500.00
BergenRidgefield Park PD$5,500.00
BergenRidgewood PD$5,500.00
BergenRiver Vale PD$5,500.00
BergenSaddle River PD$5,500.00
BergenSouth Hackensack PD$5,500.00
BergenTeaneck PD$5,500.00
BergenWyckoff PD$5,500.00
BurlingtonBurlington Twp PD$5,500.00
BurlingtonCinnaminson PD$5,500.00
BurlingtonEvesham PD$5,500.00
BurlingtonMedford PD$5,500.00
BurlingtonNew Hanover PD$5,500.00
BurlingtonRiverside PD$5,500.00
BurlingtonWestampton PD$5,500.00
CamdenBarrington PD$5,500.00
CamdenBrooklawn PD$5,500.00
CamdenCherry Hill PD$5,500.00
CamdenDelaware River and Port Authority$5,500.00
CamdenGloucester Twp PD$5,500.00
CamdenHaddon Heights PD$5,500.00
CamdenPine Hill PD$5,500.00
Cape MayLower PD$5,500.00
CumberlandMillville PD$5,500.00
CumberlandVineland PD$5,500.00
EssexBelleville PD$5,500.00
EssexBloomfield PD$5,500.00
EssexEssex County Sheriff$5,500.00
EssexGlen Ridge PD$5,500.00
GloucesterClayton PD$1,100.00
GloucesterDeptford PD$6,820.00
GloucesterGlassboro PD$6,820.00
GloucesterGreenwich PD$1,100.00
GloucesterHarrison PD$1,980.00
GloucesterLogan PD$1,100.00
GloucesterMantua PD$4,840.00
GloucesterMonroe PD$4,840.00
GloucesterPitman PD$1,100.00
GloucesterWashington PD$6,820.00
GloucesterWestville PD$1,980.00
GloucesterWoodbury Heights PD$1,100.00
GloucesterWoodbury PD$6,820.00
GloucesterWoolwich PD$2,640.00
HudsonGuttenberg PD$5,500.00
HudsonHarrison PD$5,500.00
HudsonHoboken PD$5,500.00
HudsonHudson County Sheriff$5,500.00
HudsonNorth Bergen Twp PD$5,500.00
HudsonSecaucus PD$5,500.00
HudsonUnion City PD$5,500.00
HudsonWest New York PD$5,500.00
HunterdonClinton PD$4,400.00
HunterdonClinton Twp PD$5,500.00
HunterdonFlemington PD$4,950.00
MercerEast Windsor PD$5,500.00
MercerEwing PD$5,500.00
MercerHamilton PD$5,500.00
MercerHightstown PD$5,500.00
MercerLawrence PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexCarteret PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexDunellen PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexEast Brunswick PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexEdison PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexMonroe PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexNew Brunswick PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexNorth Brunswick PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexOld Bridge PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexPiscataway PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexPlainsboro PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexSouth Brunswick PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexSouth River PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexSpotswood PD$5,500.00
MiddlesexWoodbridge PD$5,500.00
MonmouthAllentown PD$5,500.00
MonmouthDeal PD$5,500.00
MonmouthEatontown PD$5,500.00
MonmouthHolmdel PD$5,500.00
MonmouthKeansburg PD$5,500.00
MonmouthKeyport PD$5,500.00
MonmouthMiddletown PD$5,500.00
MonmouthMonmouth County Sheriff$5,500.00
MonmouthNeptune PD$5,500.00
MonmouthOcean PD$5,500.00
MonmouthSea Bright PD$5,500.00
MonmouthSea Girt PD$5,500.00
MonmouthSpring Lake Heights PD$5,500.00
MonmouthUnion Beach PD$5,500.00
MorrisBoonton PD$5,500.00
MorrisDenville PD$5,500.00
MorrisFlorham Park PD$5,500.00
MorrisHanover PD$5,500.00
MorrisJefferson PD$5,500.00
MorrisMorris County Park Police$5,500.00
MorrisMorris Plains PD$5,500.00
MorrisMorris Twp PD$5,500.00
MorrisMount Olive PD$5,500.00
MorrisRandolph PD$5,500.00
MorrisRockaway PD$5,500.00
OceanBarnegat PD$5,500.00
OceanBay Head PD$5,500.00
OceanJackson PD$5,500.00
OceanLakehurst PD$5,500.00
OceanManchester PD$5,500.00
OceanMantoloking PD$5,500.00
OceanGate PD$5,500.00
OceanPoint Pleasant Beach PD$5,500.00
OceanPoint Pleasant PD$5,500.00
PassaicBloomingdale PD$5,500.00
PassaicClifton PD$5,500.00
PassaicHawthorne PD$5,500.00
PassaicPassaic PD$5,500.00
SalemPenns Grove PD$5,500.00
SomersetBedminster PD$1,980.00
SomersetBernards PD$5,500.00
SomersetBernardsville PD$1,650.00
SomersetBound Brook PD$5,500.00
SomersetBranchburg PD$5,500.00
SomersetBridgewater PD$1,100.00
SomersetFar Hills PD$5,500.00
SomersetFranklin PD$5,500.00
SomersetGreen Brook PD$5,500.00
SomersetHillsborough PD$4,400.00
SomersetManville PD$5,500.00
SomersetMontgomery PD$5,500.00
SomersetNorth Plainfield PD$3,300.00
SomersetPeapack Gladstone PD$5,500.00
SomersetSomerset County Sheriff$5,500.00
SomersetSomerville PD$1,870.00
SomersetSouth Bound Brook PD$880.00
SomersetWarren PD$5,500.00
SomersetWatchung PD$5,500.00
SussexHopatcong PD$5,500.00
SussexSparta PD$5,500.00
SussexVernon PD$5,500.00
UnionCranford PD$5,500.00
UnionLinden PD$5,500.00
UnionRahway PD$5,500.00
UnionRoselle Park PD$5,500.00
UnionUnion PD$5,500.00
WarrenHackettstown PD$5,500.00
WarrenWashington Twp PD$770.00

What To Expect Because of the National Campaign

Between now and New Year’s Day, you can expect extra police officers in the listed townships, as well as possibly in other municipalities, to be on high alert for any signs of suspicious driving that can be associated with intoxication.  This can come in the form of DUI checkpoints near bars, restaurants, or other places where lots of people will be drinking, as well as extra police cars on patrol on New Jersey roads and highways.  Because of the program, police officers will be more likely than normal to make an arrest if a driver exhibits any signs of intoxication.

Therefore, if you plan to go out and drink or party before January 1, 2018, you should have a designated driver or take a taxi or Uber.  Safe and sober driving is especially important because, even if you don’t get in an accident and hurt yourself or others, you run the risk of getting arrested for drunk driving every time you choose to have even one drink and get behind the wheel.

Remember, one mistake, such as thinking you can drive when your blood alcohol content (BAC) is actually above .08%, can result in serious consequences – such as fines, jail time, or loss of driving privileges – that affect you for years to come.

New Jersey DUI/DWI Lawyer Edward M. Janzekovich Can Help if You Are Pulled Over During the Holidays

Not only should you be extra careful so that you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe, you should also be aware that police officers and government officials are on high alert for any potential drunk or intoxicated drivers during the holidays.  If you or someone you know is charged for any crime relating to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it is extremely important to contact an experienced DUI/DWI attorney immediately. A good drunk driving lawyer can make all the difference.  To speak with an experienced New Jersey DWI/DUI lawyer about your situation, call us at 732-257-1137 or contact us online today.  We serve clients throughout the state of New Jersey.