The Fourth of July is one of America’s favorite holidays.  Families and friends gather to celebrate our nation with food, parades, parties, picnics, and fireworks.  For many, the celebration includes alcohol, but the holiday can quickly go from festive to fatal when people choose to drive after drinking.  From 2009 to 2013, nearly 40% of ALL traffic fatalities over the Fourth of July holiday period involved alcohol-impaired drivers, making the Independence Day holiday the most dangerous holiday of the year.

     In 2013 alone, there were 199 people killed nationwide in alcohol-impaired accidents on the roadways during the Fourth of July holiday period.  To crack down on drunk driving this Fourth of July, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office will be aggressively searching for those impaired drivers who put lives in danger.  For everyone’s sake, don’t drink and drive.  If you are pulled over and found to be impaired, then you will be arrested.  The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign means zero tolerance for drunk driving – no excuses.

     In every state, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, yet people continue to break the law and drive drunk.  For minors who drink and drive, the legal limit is much lower.  A DWI arrest means a trip to jail, having to pay bail to be released, loss of driving privileges, possibly a jail sentence, and steep financial expenses. 

     The Sheriff’s Office recommends following these simple steps to prevent drunk driving:

1. Plan a safe way home before the fun begins.
2. Before drinking, designate a sober driver who will not consume any alcohol.
3. If you’re impaired, use a taxi or call a sober friend or family member.
4. If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired or ride with someone who is driving while impaired, take steps to help the person find other transportation arrangements.

     If you happen to see a suspected drunk driver, don’t hesitate to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 870-425-7000 or your local law enforcement agency.

Baxter County Sheriff’s Office