Plan ahead to prevent impaired driving this holiday season

December is here, and with it, another season of holiday celebrations. Don’t cut the party short by driving impaired– it is dangerous, reckless and never the only option.

Wisconsin State Patrol’s December Law of the Month brings attention to impaired driving laws and encourages motorists to find safe ways to get to their destinations this holiday season.

“Across the state, Wisconsinites are celebrating the holidays and the end of another year,” Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan said. “We encourage everyone to take responsibility and plan ahead if you plan to celebrate. Designate a sober driver ahead of time, take public transit, or use a rideshare program to keep yourself and others safe on the roads. There is never an excuse for driving impaired.”

On average, someone is injured or killed in an impaired driving crash every two hours in Wisconsin. In 2023, there were over 7,700 impaired driving crashes that claimed the lives of 186 people on Wisconsin roads.

Drive sober: It’s the law

In Wisconsin, drivers are prohibited from operating any vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of more than 0.08. Under Wisconsin’s “not a drop” law, drivers under age 21 are prohibited from having any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. Drivers may not have any illegal drugs in their system when behind the wheel.

Motorists who refuse a blood/breath alcohol test will lose their license for at least one year and may have their vehicle impounded.

Taking action

Wisconsin law enforcement works hard year-round to encourage safe driving and prevent impaired driving.

Over 7,500 law enforcement officers across the state are trained in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE). This helps law enforcement detect impaired drivers and get them off the road.

With almost 400 Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) across the state, Wisconsin is helping lead the nation in eliminating drug-impaired driving. DREs help prevent tragedies by identifying the signs of drug-impaired driving and securing convictions to keep them off the roads.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is continuing to highlight the danger that impaired driving poses throughout the holiday season with its Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Running from Dec. 13, 2024, through Jan. 1, 2025, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is an annual holiday partnership with local law enforcement to keep Wisconsin roads safe and free of impaired drivers.

Stay safe, make smart choices

Driving impaired carries serious consequences. Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) charges can cost you around $10,000. Stay safe and save money on the road this holiday season:

• Select a sober designated driver ahead of time. If you’re feeling impaired, you are likely over the 0.08 Blood Alcohol Concentration limit and should not drive.
• Remember you have options: take the bus, call a taxi, use a rideshare or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
• If you have a friend who is about to drive under the influence, step in. Take away their keys and get them home safely.
• If it’s your turn to be the sober driver, take that job seriously.
• If you suspect a driver is impaired, safely gather as much information as you can about the vehicle, driver and location. Then call 911.

View the December Law of the Month video and news release online: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/about-wisdot/newsroom/law/lom.aspx

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.