Utilizing nearly $200,000 in Federal Highway Safety funding, 42 Maine law enforcement agencies, including the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Waldoboro Police Dept., will have additional patrols looking for impaired drivers throughout December and January.
LCSO’s share to increase patrols is $5000, and Waldoboro PD’s is $4980.
The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety, which administers the money, said the funding will pay for additional police patrols on an overtime basis looking for drunk and drugged drivers behind the wheel.
Highway Safety Director Lauren Stewart said 33 municipal police departments, eight sheriff’s offices and the State Police are taking part in the Holiday Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign, Stewart said this is the third year in a row the program has been run and coincides with a national effort by law enforcement agencies across the country.
Stewart said 31 percent of all of the fatal crashes in Maine during 2009 were alcohol involved. That number dropped to 22 percent for the first six months of this year and the final numbers for 2010 are still being reviewed.
“Our message is simple: if you plan to drink, don’t plan to drive because there will be dozens of additional police officers on the road to help enforce that message,” Stewart said.
State Police received $40,678 – the largest share of the holiday enforcement funding. State Police Chief Colonel Patrick Fleming said, “The additional patrols by Troopers looking for drunk drivers will take place throughout the state. Drunk driving enforcement is a year-round priority for Troopers and the additional federal funding helps augment our OUI patrols.”
Ed Googins, chief of the South Portland Police Dept. and Maine Chiefs of Police Association president urged the public to get involved when they suspect a drunk driver is on the road.
“Everyone can do their part in keeping our roads safe by calling 911 on a cell phone when they see someone impaired getting behind the wheel and police will take immediate action,” Googins said.
Cumberland County Sheriff-elect Kevin Joyce said, “The holiday season is a time to gather and celebrate with family and friends. Unfortunately, too many holiday seasons are marred by someone killed or injured in a drunk driving crash.”
The Bureau of Highway Safety have the following tips for New Year’s celebrations: Before drinking, designate a sober driver; if impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member; if a drunk driver is seen on the road, call 911; and, if one knows someone is about to drink while impaired, intervene and take their keys.
Besides LCSO and Waldoboro PD, other regional police and sheriff departments include: Brunswick, Augusta, Cumberland County, Rockland, Sagadahoc County; Thomaston, Portland and Topsham.
