Law on the lookout for drunken drivers

The St. Croix County Sheriff’s department along with the North Hudson Police Department and other agencies will step up their campaign against drunken drivers in Wisconsin through Labor Day weekend.

The “Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over,” campaign begins Aug. 17 and runs to Sep. 3. Sheriff’s deputies will be patrolling in greater numbers and for longer hours to get impaired drivers off the road. The goal is to deter drunken driving.

Last year 225 people were killed and nearly 3,000 injured in alcohol-related crashes in Wisconsin. There were some 35,000 conviction for drunken driving in the state in 2011.

A state law that took effect July 2010 strengthens deterrents and increases penalties for drunken driving including increased jail time for various OWI convictions.

“Drunken driving is entirely preventable. If we can deter people from getting behind the wheel when they are not sober, we will make progress toward the goal of zero preventable traffic deaths in Wisconsin,” said Sheriff John Shilts.

The sheriff urges people to choose a sober designated driver before drinking, take a taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you home rather than risk an arrest and don’t let a friend drive drunk.

Tags: saint croix county, crime, wisconsin