Norman, Oklahoma, residents might notice more police officers than normal when they are out driving through New Year’s. There will be DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols throughout the city. These are aimed at preventing the deaths that can come from impaired driving.
Six people died in drunk driving incidents in Oklahoma during the New Year’s and Christmas holiday in Oklahoma in 2016. Each of these deaths was wholly preventable, so the police department is taking part in efforts to help everyone make it home safely during this holiday season. Amazingly, there weren’t any drunk driving fatalities reported during the New Year’s holiday by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in 2017.
December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, so AAA Oklahoma is using this as an opportunity to remind drivers that if you are feeling differently than you do when you are sober, you are going to drive differently. They are encouraging drivers to use alternative methods for getting home if they have been driving. Grabbing a ride with a sober friend, using a ride-share program or finding a local place to sleep off some of the alcohol are all options that you might consider.
The New Year’s holiday is one included in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. If a police officer spots signs of impaired driving, a traffic stop will be initiated. Some drivers might end up facing criminal charges for driving drunk. If you are one of these drivers, make sure that you know your rights and learn the options you have for setting up a defense strategy to combat the charges.