A Sign of Summer’s End: NJ’s ‘Drive Sober’ Crackdown Starts

TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey police departments began their annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign on Friday as state Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced $540,680 worth of grants to 110 agencies to help pay for their initiatives.

In Middlesex County, only five police departments got grants: Dunellen, Monroe, Old Bridge, Perth Amboy and Plainsboro. Each will receive $7,000 to help pay for stepped-up enforcement.

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Grants range from $2,100 to $8,750, with the Atlantic City Police Dept. getting the largest. For a complete list of recipients click here .

Just because local police departments did not get 2024 state grants, does not mean police officers elsewhere will not be on high-alert for impaired drivers, conduct saturation patrols, or set up surprise sobriety checkpoints, the Attorney General’s office explained.

Police in Carteret, Perth Amboy, Sayreville, South Amboy and Woodbridge routinely participate in this annual enforcement initiative, racking-up arrests or issuing summons for impaired driving, distracted driving, and a host of motor vehicle infractions.

The state’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign runs through Labor Day, Sept. 2. It is part of a nationwide effort to reduce accidents and raise awareness about impaired driving in the final stretch of summer, Platkin’s prepared statement explained.

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“Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not a mistake. It’s a crime that puts everyone on the road at risk,” said Platkin. “The consequences are devastating and far-reaching — but are preventable through responsible behavior and vigilant law enforcement.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s most recent data, 13,524 individuals died in 2022 drunk-driving crashes in the United States – roughly 37 each day, equivalent to one life lost every 39 minutes.

During the state’s 2023 “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, police in New Jersey made 350 arrests for driving under the influence, issued 1,220 speeding tickets, and 634 seat belt summonses.

“If you choose to drive while impaired, you're recklessly gambling with your life and the lives of the other people sharing the road,” said Michael J. Rizol Jr., director of the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “Impaired driving is a direct threat to the safety of everyone on the road.”

Drivers arrested for impaired driving face serious legal repercussions that include stiff fines of up to $10,000. Impaired drivers involved in property damage, accidents with injuries, or fatal accidents may face prison sentences, civil penalties, and be left with permanent criminal records, state authorities said.

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