GARLAND COUNTY, Ark. — Local law enforcement agencies across the state are looking to keep everyone safe on the roads this holiday season.
According to a new Forbes Advisor’s study, Arkansas is the 13th most dangerous state for drunk driving.
As part of the yearly crackdown to get drunk drivers off the streets, departments are partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization.
The Garland County Sheriff's Office (GCSO) has already started planning some new safety initiatives. According to John Schroeder, enforcement training supervisor with the GCSO, 4.500 people were killed in drunk driving accidents in each month of December from 2017 to 2021.
With that information in mind, the GCSO will implement a selective traffic enforcement program where deputies will be out working specifically to combat impaired driving.
Schroeder added that the members of this new enforcement program won't take any other calls, because ultimately, driving impaired will cost you more in the end.
"By the time you get done with all the costs associated with that, you may be close to about $10,000, especially if you hire a lawyer. It's a $1,000 bond just to get out. You may spend some time in jail if nobody bonds you out. But generally, a DWI will cost a person between fines, fees, and lawyer's court fees about $10,000," Schroeder explained. “The cost is not worth it. It is very inexpensive to take a taxi, it is very inexpensive to call a friend who's not drinking to come get you."
While Schroeder said they want Arkansans to be able to enjoy Christmas and New Year's festivities— but in a responsible, safe way.
"It's way cheaper than that moment of going, 'I can make it home' and then you don't. Also ultimately the penalty might be you kill yourself, someone that's riding with you, or someone who's just innocent that you crashed into so we're trying to mitigate that and we hope that people will be responsible,” He added.
The special year-end Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization starts across the nation on December 15 and runs through January 1, 2024.
Schroeder said to remember that buzzed driving counts as impaired driving and you could be the reason someone else doesn't make it home— so choose the responsible route.