Wisconsin State Patrol begins Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign for holiday season

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Division of State Patrol is joining law enforcement agencies across the state and nation in a unified effort to get impaired drivers off the roads this holiday season. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign kicks off today boosting efforts to educate and enforce Wisconsin’s impaired driving laws through New Year’s Day.

During the last holiday season (Dec. 15, 2024-Jan. 1, 2025), there were 403 crashes involving impaired drivers in Wisconsin. Those incidents killed nine people and injured 169 others.

“With the holiday season underway, we are urging drivers to plan ahead before celebrating to keep Wisconsin’s roads safe,” Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan said. “Every crash caused by impaired driving is preventable. We are increasing efforts to keep impaired drivers off the road, but we need drivers to make responsible choices and consider others before getting behind the wheel.”

The Wisconsin State Patrol helps local law enforcement agencies obtain specialty training to detect impaired driving. More than 8,000 officers in Wisconsin are trained in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and nearly 400 have completed Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) training, which is more than most states.

Impaired driving has many consequences for a driver in addition to the potential for a crash. An Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) conviction can cost around $10,000, including fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates and vehicle services. A driver can also lose their license and vehicle because of an OWI conviction.

There is no reason to drive impaired. The Wisconsin State Patrol encourages drivers to put safety first:

· Always drive sober.

· Impairment can cloud judgement, so designate a sober driver prior to celebrating.

· Take the bus, call a taxi, or use a rideshare service instead of getting behind the wheel. If available, use the Safe Ride program to get home.

· If you are the designated driver, take that responsibility seriously.

· If you’re hosting a gathering, consider how your guests will get home.

· If you have a friend who is about to drink and drive, step in. Take the keys away and help them get home safely.

· If you suspect a driver is impaired, safely gather as much info as you can about the vehicle, driver and location. Then call 911.

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.