Maynard Police Remind Residents: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

For Immediate Release

Monday, Dec. 22, 2014

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 978-841-9948
Email: john@jgpr.net

Maynard Police Warn Residents About Dangers of Drinking and Driving

5 Arrests for OUI Over The Weekend

MAYNARD — Police Chief Mark W. Dubois reports that the Maynard Police Department arrested five people for operating under the influence of alcohol between early Friday morning and Sunday evening, and he is reminding residents and motorists to use a designated driver and avoid the potential for harming people, harming themselves, and facing arrests and serious consequences.

The increase in arrests this month is in large part due to an increase in drivers during the holiday season and an aggressive mobilization of resources by the Maynard Police Department to find and stop drunk drivers and prevent them from causing a crash and harming innocent people. This mobilization is in support of the State and Federal “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” initiative.

“Our number one goal and priority is to ensure that everyone has a safe and healthy holiday season and that they get to and from their holiday celebrations safely,” Chief Dubois said. “Use a designated driver if you drink alcohol, and do not put yourself in a position to ruin another family’s holidays.”

Maynard joins nearly 200 other law enforcement agencies, which are running extra patrols through the New Year as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization.

The facts are grim. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2012 in Massachusetts, 123 people were killed in crashes that involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Nationally, in December of 2012, there were 830 people killed in crashes involving at least one driver with a BAC of .08 or higher.

Twenty-six of those deaths occurred on Christmas Day.

If you’re drinking and driving, Maynard Police will find and arrest you. No warnings, no excuses. You’ll face jail time, fines, loss of your driver’s license, towing fees, and other OUI expenses, totaling $10,000 on average.

The Maynard Police Department strongly suggest that anyone drinking should designate a sober driver ahead of time, call a friend or family member, use public transportation, or call a taxi. The alternatives are all far less expensive than the risks of arrest, prosecution, and possible taking someone else’s life.

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