WESTFIELD – City police have announced a crackdown designed to protect the public from the dangers caused by drivers who operate motor vehicles while intoxicated.
Police Chief John Camerota has announced that the Westfield Police Department will participate in a state-wide initiative dubbed ‘Drive sober or get pulled over’ which is funded by a federal grant administered by the highway safety division of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
The effort, Camerota’s announcement reports, will extend through the waning days of summer until Labor Day, as statistics suggest that the dangers posed by impaired drivers are highest during summer and over holiday weekends.
Camerota pointed out that impaired driving is one of the crimes most committed in the nation and reports that, in 2010, 115 persons died in vehicular crashes in the Commonwealth, which involved an impaired driver. Nationwide, an alcohol involved crash claims a life, on average, every 51 minutes.
“Since twice as many alcohol-impaired crashes occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night, we will be especially vigilant during these high-risk times,” he said.
He went on to state that city police will be aggressively looking for all impaired drivers and will arrest any impaired operator found regardless of age, vehicle type or time of day.
Capt. Hipolito Nunez reports that, in Westfield, police have arrested 18 drivers so far this year for operating under the influence of liquor. In 2009, he said, 62 operators were arrested for drunk driving and, in 2010, 49 drivers were arrested for operating while impaired. Last year, 50 drivers were charged with operating under the influence.
“Our message is simple and unwavering: if we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you.” Camerota said. “The trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can destroy your life.”
According to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, persons convicted of drink driving can face jail time, often lose their license to drive or may be required to install and use ignition interlocks.
Financial repercussions include increased insurance rates, attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, loss of work time and limitations to employment prospects.
Camerota’s announcement states that conviction of a first offense of driving while impaired “can easily cost well over $5,000.”
