Drunk driving arrests by Massachusetts State Police increased by 30 percent or more than 1,100 drivers, said Massachusetts State Police Superintendent Colonel Timothy Allen at a press conference outside of Massachusetts State Police headquarters in Framingham Friday morning.
As of Dec. 27, Massachusetts State Police had arrested 4,866 individuals and charged them with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. In 2011, Massachusetts State Police arrested 3,728 individuals.
Massachusetts State Police and local police departments will be out in force this holiday weekend looking for drunk, impaired and dangerous drivers on the roads, as part of their Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over holiday campaign.
Natick Police Chief James Hicks, who is the new president of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, said "our goal is for a safe holiday season and a safe new year."
Everyone has heard "Don't Drink & Drive" but Massachusetts Undersecretary of Law Enforcement Karen Wells offered a few other words of advice at the press conference:
- Designate a sober driver or arrange another safe way home
- Call a cab or a sober friend or take public transportation
- "If you see an impaired driver contact law enforcement, your action may save someone's life, said Wells. "Your inaction, could cost a life."