RPD Cracks Down on Drunk Drivers

The Reading Police Department along with 126 other departments statewide will crack down on impaired driving through Labor Day, according to a recent release.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is a federally funded program and will run from August 16–September 2.

"Nationally, impaired driving is one of the nation’s most often committed and deadliest crimes leading to catastrophic human and economic losses. Statistics show one alcohol impaired driving-related fatality occurred every 53 minutes across the nation in 2011," according to a recent release. "In that same year, 114 people died as a result of alcohol related crashes in the Commonwealth where drivers had a blood alcohol content level of .08 or higher."

“It’s predictable but fact, the number of drivers operating under the influence increases during holiday weekends, especially during the summer,” said Reading Lt. David M. Stamatis. “All too often that means innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences from this careless disregard for human life.  We’re committed to ending the carnage so we’re intensifying enforcement during this crackdown and will be especially vigilant during nights and weekends when impaired drivers are most likely on our roads.”

RPD officers have plans to arrest anyone driving under the influence regardless of age or time of day, the release said. 

“Our message is simple and unwavering: operate a vehicle impaired and we will arrest you. No exceptions,” Stamatis said in a release. “Driving impaired is simply not worth the potential consequences."