The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS) have launched an intensified enforcement effort to deter impaired driving across the state. The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which runs through Labor Day on September 1, is part of a national initiative aimed at reducing crash risks and increasing awareness about impaired driving during the high-traffic summer season.
HTS has allocated $564,130 in grant funding to 102 police agencies statewide to support additional patrols and high-visibility sobriety checkpoints during this period. The effort targets the removal of alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers from the roads.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that 12,429 people died in drunk-driving crashes nationwide in 2023, averaging 34 fatalities per day, or one every 42 minutes. New Jersey ranks among the states with the lowest percentage of traffic deaths involving alcohol-impaired drivers, behind only six other jurisdictions. State Police statistics indicate a decline in intoxicated drivers involved in fatal crashes from 2022 to 2023.
The campaign also emphasizes public education on the dangers of impaired driving. HTS urges residents to discuss responsible drinking and safe transportation options with family and friends to help reduce preventable crashes and fatalities.
In 2024, the campaign’s enforcement period resulted in 633 arrests for driving while intoxicated, 3,568 speeding tickets, and 1,608 seatbelt summonses. Those convicted of impaired driving in New Jersey face potential fines of up to $10,000, possible prison sentences, and permanent criminal records.