Beginning on December 11, 2024, and continuing through January 1, 2025, the Summit Police Department (SPD) is participating in the annual "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. The SPD received a grant for $7,000 from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety to initiate the campaign that aims to educate the public about the dangers and consequences of impaired driving.
“Every year, countless lives in New Jersey are lost due to impaired driving, the number of which is higher during the holiday season,” explains Summit Police Chief Steven Zagorski. “The ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign is a commitment from the Summit Police Department to step up its patrols and keep a vigilant watch for those making the deadly decision to drive under the influence. Through this campaign we hope to create a lasting impact and cultivate safe driving habits throughout the community."
During the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, residents will see increased patrols; more officers will be on the roads, particularly during peak hours and weekends, actively looking for signs of impaired driving. The SPD will also promote the campaign on social media and the City of Summit website, sharing statistics and other messages related to the topic of impaired driving.
The SPD offers the following tips to avoid impaired driving:
- Plan a safe way home before drinking.
- Designate a sober driver or use public transportation, taxis, or ride-sharing services.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 911 to inform local law enforcement.
- If someone you know is about to drive impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements.
More information on the Summit Police Department is available at cityofsummit.org/police.