Ridgewood Police Cracking Down on DUIs

The Ridgewood Police Department over the next few weeks will be stepping up patrols to get drunk drivers off the road.

According to a release sent by the department, the joy of the holidays bring with it some unintended consequences – drunk driving statistics rise sharply. Statewide, about 30 percent of all fatalities in motor vehicle crashes in December 2010 involved drunk drivers.

“Lots of folks will be out during this busy holiday season, enjoying themselves and the holiday festivities, and we want everyone to be safe on our roadways.” said Division of Highway Traffic Safety Acting Director Gary Poedubicky in a statement. “That’s why we will be stepping up enforcement to catch and arrest impaired drivers. If you are caught drinking and driving impaired, you will be arrested. No warnings. No excuses.”

There were 152 fatalities directly attributed to impaired driving in the state in 2011, representing 24 percent of all fatal auto accidents that year.

The New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety reported nearly 2,000 DWI arrests in winter of 2011; 8,345 speeding summonses; 4,420 seat belt violation summonses; and more than 2,000 fugitives caught following stops.