It’s typical for local law enforcement to assign extra patrols around holidays like Labor Day or the 4th of July.
The campaign for Labor Day began this past weekend, with one extra shift at the Evansville Police Department (EPD).
The annual ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been around for over a decade. Its purpose is to spread awareness about the dangers of impaired driving, supported by extra law enforcement patrols during holidays like Labor Day.
The extra patrols will be fulfilled by officers working volunteer overtime, funded by NHTSA. Officers will be in uniform and driving fully marked patrol vehicles.
Nick Winsett, a sergeant with the Evansville Police Department (EPD), said they’ll have at least five to ten officers pick up the overtime.
“If you combine that with the sheriff's department and state police, we're all on the same program, you'll have quite a few officers total out aside from their regular working shifts.”
In addition to impaired drivers, they will be on the lookout for other traffic violations including speeders and drivers on their phone.
In 2024, almost 14-percent of traffic fatalities in Indiana involved alcohol and nearly 35-percent involved drug impairment, according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
Winsett said their goal with the program is about road safety and awareness.
“We want our numbers — our fatality accidents involving alcohol and drugs — we want those numbers to go down, so that is the ultimate goal, not simply making arrests and writing tickets.”
He said people should coordinate a sober ride home before attending an event where they know drugs or alcohol will be consumed.
Previously this year, the campaign was enforced around the 4th of July. After the Labor Day enforcement period, there will be one more beginning in December to cover the winter holidays.
More on the effects of impaired driving can be found here.
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