Drunk driving

August 13, 2008 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley announced that more than 125 additional state troopers will hit the roads Aug. 18-24, ramping up DUI, seat belt and aggressive driving enforcement during a statewide “Take Back Our Highways” traffic safety campaign.

Public Safety Director Col. J. Christopher Murphy joined the governor at a Montgomery news conference to unveil plans for the traffic safety and enforcement effort, which DPS successfully pioneered last year to combat Alabama’s rising fatality rate. Trooper-worked fatalities dropped by 62 in 2007, and troopers have worked 93 fewer fatalities this year, compared with the same period last year.    » read more »

March 17, 2008 -- “We are pleased with the Court’s decision upholding the scientific reliability of the Alcotest and the admissibility of its results in evidence. The Court’s ruling provides a firm foundation for using this next generation of breath testing instrument in the enforcement of our drunken driving laws.    » read more »

January 10, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today announced his plan to better protect Missourians from drunk drivers requiring repeat offenders to modify their vehicles to ensure they cannot endanger other Missourians by drinking and driving.    » read more »

More Than 155,000 Traffic and Criminal Citations Issued Statewide During Holiday Campaign

1/8/2008 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley announced today that state and local law enforcement officers issued citations to 4,367 motorists for driving while impaired during the Holiday “Booze It & Lose It” campaign. The campaign, which ran from Nov. 30, 2007 to Jan. 2, yielded 155,194 traffic and criminal citations statewide.    » read more »

January 7, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Gregoire today announced she will introduce legislation authorizing law enforcement in Washington state to conduct sobriety checkpoints to fight against drunk driving.

“Sobriety checkpoints will be an important tool for law enforcement to catch drunk drivers and will help keep families safer when they are on the road,” said Governor Chris Gregoire. “Let’s hope these checkpoints will keep would-be drunk drivers from even getting behind the wheel and take those who make the bad decision to drink and drive off the road.”    » read more »

Dec.19, 2007 -- Pierre, SD - More than 25 bars and restaurants statewide are giving their patrons a message they hope will stick.

This Saturday, establishments in South Dakota's Pierre, Keystone, Rapid City, Rockerville, Sioux Falls, Watertown, and Yankton are distributing “don’t drink and drive” sticky notes to customers when they deliver their bills.    » read more »

November 20, 2007 -- Santa Fe — New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson announced today that New Mexico ranked 11th among all states in a Mothers Against Drunk Driving “State Progress Report” in the battle against drunk driving.

“I am pleased that MADD’s report reflects the progress we have made here in New Mexico to combat drunk driving,” said Governor Richardson. “We are working tirelessly to fight DWI and we are seeing the results, but there is still more work to be done."    » read more »

November 19, 2007 -- When Michigan motorists arrive safely at their holiday celebration this weekend, they can give thanks in part to the additional law enforcement officers who will be on patrol to look for drunk drivers and safety belt violations. Officers from hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the state will participate in the special patrols during the Thanksgiving holiday period.    » read more »

01 November 2007, Washington (By Ray McDonald) -- Actor Lane Garrison was sentenced on October 31 to three years and four months in prison for a drunken driving crash that killed a 17-year-old Beverly Hills High School student in December.

Speaking to the former actor in the Prison Break FOX TV series, Superior Court Judge Elden S. Fox said "The public has a right to know that conduct such as this, causing devastation such as this will have consequences. Unfortunately, in this case, you have to be the messenger."    » read more »

10/23/2007 -- The New York Yankees are saddened to announce the passing of media relations department intern Matthew Wasser, 22, who passed away tragically early Sunday morning in Waltham, Mass., as a passenger in a cab hit by a person charged with operating under the influence of alcohol.

Matt began working with the Yankees media relations department in the spring of 2007, dealing extensively with local, national and international media covering the team on a daily basis.    » read more »

10 October 2007, Washington (By Ray McDonald) -- Kiefer Sutherland pleaded no contest on October 9 to drunken driving. He will begin serving a 48-day jail sentence while his Fox drama 24 begins its winter production break in December.

The 40-year-old actor agreed to serve 30 days for driving with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit of .08 percent, with an additional 18 days for violating his probation for a 2004 drunken driving case, according to court records.    » read more »

September 25, 2007 -- SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation that will give the State increased powers to enforce DUI laws. Senate Bill 577, sponsored by State Senator John J. Cullerton (D-Chicago) and State Representative Eddie Washington (D-Waukegan), gives more power and opportunity to the Secretary of State to penalize drivers who are arrested or stopped on suspicion of driving under the influence.    » read more »

25 September 2007, Washington (By Ray McDonald) -- Kiefer Sutherland was arrested early Tuesday on misdemeanor drunk driving charges after reportedly failing a field sobriety test.

Officer Kevin Maiberger says the 40-year-old star of the TV series 24 was pulled over at about 1:10 a.m. in West Los Angeles after officers spotted him making an illegal U-Turn. Officer Karen Smith says Kiefer Sutherland tested over California's legal blood alcohol limit of .08 percent, and was arrested on a misdmeanor charge of driving under the influence.    » read more »

September 17, 2007 -- More than 1,500 motorists found themselves over the limit and under arrest during the recent statewide drunk driving crackdown. Michigan law enforcement officers arrested 1,002 motorists for drunk driving and another 513 for other alcohol-related offenses during the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. campaign that concluded on Labor Day.    » read more »

9/10/2007, PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long today launched a campaign aimed at preventing drunk driving and underage drinking with new 30-second radio public service announcements set to air on stations throughout the state. The spots are timed to coincide with the back-to-school season and will air more than 1,200 times between now and October.    » read more »