Deputies from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct a DWI checkpoint this weekend at an undisclosed location in St. Tammany Parish. The checkpoint is part of the ongoing, proactive “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which is targeted at combatting impaired driving during the Mardi Gras season.
The manpower for this initiative is funded by a grant from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
Even though the floats and parades have been sidelined by the pandemic, people in Louisiana surely will find a way to celebrate Carnival. For too many, that may include drinking and driving, which could have consequences far beyond the Lenten season.
LHSC reminds drivers that law enforcement agents across Louisiana will be watching for impaired drivers in a special “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” period through February 16.
“We want you to enjoy the holiday while taking COVID precautions. Most importantly, we want to make sure you’re around for next year’s Mardi Gras, and we know your friends and family want that, too,” said Lisa Freeman, executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
During the 2019 Carnival season in Louisiana, five people were killed and 77 were injured in alcohol-related crashes, according to the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU.
“We want people to know that we are out there, not just this weekend but every day looking for drivers that are under the influence, and we hope these checkpoints serve as a deterrent,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “If you choose to consume alcohol, don’t drive. Have a designated driver or call a cab. If all options fail, call us and we will find you a safe ride.”