Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

MEDIA ADVISORY - PRESS CONFERENCE AUGUST 17TH - DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER

The Rhode Island State Police and the Providence Police Department will co-host an event that will involve all of the law enforcement agencies around the state for one common goal, to detect, arrest, and prosecute drunk drivers during an intense, high-visibility enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, that begins August 17th and ends September 3rd (Labor Day).

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation Office on Highway Safety joins the rest of the country in funding and mobilizing law enforcement agencies to target drunk drivers with the goal of reducing alcohol-related fatalities and crashes.

The press conference will be held at Biltmore Park at Exchange Terrace and Kennedy Plaza at 7:30pm.

Governor Chafee stated, "I applaud the Rhode Island State Police and the Department of Transportation for taking the lead in cracking down on impaired driving in Rhode Island. There are still far too many instances of drunk driving in our state, but increasing awareness is key - and that is why initiatives such as this are so important."

Colonel Steven G. O'Donnell stated, "To date we have seen a 13% increase in fatal crashes over last year at this time. Our goal for the last weeks of summer is to be fatality free. The increased enforcement will help us achieve this goal."

"We encourage people to enjoy these weekends leading up to Labor Day," said Colonel Clements, "but do so responsibly because we will not tolerate impaired drivers endangering our citizens on the roads leading into and out of the Capital City."

Speakers for the press event include: Colonel Steven G. O'Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety; Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Chief of the Providence Police Department; Robert Rocchio, P.E., Managing Engineer, RI Department of Transportation; and Gabrielle Abbate, Executive Director, MADD Rhode Island.

"Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over."