To keep area residents safe during the holidays, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office announced recently that its officers will focus on confronting any incidents of impaired driving with “zero tolerance,” warning of the consequences.
“Beginning on Dec. 16 and continuing into the New Year, motorists will see stepped-up enforcement to watch for anyone who is driving impaired, distracted or without a seat belt,” Sheriff Mike McCoy said. “We are helping Illinois drive zero fatalities to reality, so we will have zero tolerance for drunk and drug-impaired driving this holiday season.”
Studies have revealed that judgment is seriously compromised by alcohol consumption, particularly when motorists have been drinking at holiday gatherings. Of the more than 35,000 individuals who died in U.S. traffic accidents last year, 29 percent involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over .08, the legal limit.
Hence the department is enforcing its Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Sheriff McCoy emphasized that this time of year should be a joyful one. To that end, he said, the department will do “whatever it takes to help save lives by keeping our roads safe.”
“If you choose to drive impaired, you not only risk your safety and that of others, but you will also face serious legal consequences,” he added.
Those penalties may include serving jail time, losing one’s driver’s license and paying higher insurance premiums — as well as unexpected accident-related costs like towing, legal fees and lost wages.
Peoria authorities urge motorists to follow safety procedures strictly. Under no circumstances should anyone take the wheel after drinking; and citizens should remember to “drive sober or get pulled over.”
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