Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign continues through Labor Day

Staff report

Canfield

The Mahoning County Operating a Vehicle Impaired Task Force is ramping up its enforcement of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

The campaign, supported by police departments across the country, began Aug. 17 and continues through Labor Day, said Scott Weamer, Canfield’s assistant police chief.

Weamer said the task force has been participating since the start, but will be emphasizing the importance of sober driving throughout the holiday weekend.

“The purpose of the campaign is high enforcement, which is what we do, as well as an increase in public awareness and education,” he said.

The task force works in tandem with Mahoning County Safe Communities. The organization will have a booth at the Canfield Fair, which began Wednesday, where they will spread the word about the dangers of drinking and driving.

“They’ll have the fatal-vision goggles so people see the difference between normal and impaired vision,” Weamer said.

“It’s a good way to really show people how the impairment does affect them.”

In 2009, Weamer said 1.4 million people were arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

He said about 11,000 people are killed per year in alcohol-related crashes, and over the past five years 900 people have died in alcohol-related crashes occurring over the Labor Day weekend.

“Those numbers are just staggering,” he said.

Weamer said any motorist who suspects someone is driving drunk should call 911 immediately to report the vehicle.

“We appreciate those calls, and we get those all the time,” he added.