Make sure to keep safety first while you're travelling to and from your celebrations this weekend.
The Fourth of July holiday weekend is ranked among the top deadliest days on the road and nearly half of those deaths are alcohol related. "People don't take drinking and driving seriously," said Zephree Brinson, Madd court monitoring specialist.
As a court monitoring specialist, Brinson has seen her share of drunk driving cases, which is why she's not surprised to hear that last week alone 110 people were arrested for DWI during the first week of the no refusal holiday. "Because people look at drinking alcohol as a right of passage," Brinson.
Brinson, along with other MADD representatives and Quanell X were at the Sunnyside community center Thursday night.
Reminding residents of the dangers of drinking and driving. On display were the faces of countless people who died senslessly in alcohol-related crashes. "It's a very good step in the right direction for us to get the dialog started, for us to talk about it this way we're being proactive instead of reactive," Brinson said.
Those caught behind the wheel and intoxicated this weekend will not get off lightly. Aside from the no refusal program, where officers will get a warrant for those who refuse a breath test, Precinct 4 has launched it's impaired driver mobilization program. It's a grant that pays for extra officers to patrol the streets. They will specifically be looking for impaired drivers. While it's different from the no refusal program, violators risk loosing their licenses. "There's a silent consent so that if you're stopped and asked by peace officer to give a specimen of breath or even blood for testing of alcohol impairment if you refuse your license can be suspended for up to 90 days," said Cpt Paul Staton.
MADD reminds, it's not against drinking, but it is for having a plan. It says either get a designated driver or a cab, but don't get on the road drunk.
The Fourth of July holiday weekend is ranked among the top deadliest days on the road and nearly half of those deaths are alcohol related. "People don't take drinking and driving seriously," said Zephree Brinson, Madd court monitoring specialist.
As a court monitoring specialist, Brinson has seen her share of drunk driving cases, which is why she's not surprised to hear that last week alone 110 people were arrested for DWI during the first week of the no refusal holiday. "Because people look at drinking alcohol as a right of passage," Brinson.
Brinson, along with other MADD representatives and Quanell X were at the Sunnyside community center Thursday night.
Reminding residents of the dangers of drinking and driving. On display were the faces of countless people who died senslessly in alcohol-related crashes. "It's a very good step in the right direction for us to get the dialog started, for us to talk about it this way we're being proactive instead of reactive," Brinson said.
Those caught behind the wheel and intoxicated this weekend will not get off lightly. Aside from the no refusal program, where officers will get a warrant for those who refuse a breath test, Precinct 4 has launched it's impaired driver mobilization program. It's a grant that pays for extra officers to patrol the streets. They will specifically be looking for impaired drivers. While it's different from the no refusal program, violators risk loosing their licenses. "There's a silent consent so that if you're stopped and asked by peace officer to give a specimen of breath or even blood for testing of alcohol impairment if you refuse your license can be suspended for up to 90 days," said Cpt Paul Staton.
MADD reminds, it's not against drinking, but it is for having a plan. It says either get a designated driver or a cab, but don't get on the road drunk.
