Help Keep SW Florida Roads Safe - Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over
Brian O Sutter
Accident Lawyers
Port Charlotte is a hard-working patriotic community. Every day thousands of SW Florida residents are on the roads, heading to work making our area a great place to live and Labor Day is the one holiday dedicated to those who work hard, and add to our community. Labor Day in SW Florida means celebrations, picnics, cookouts, beachgoers, and boaters. Unfortunately, Labor Day and late summer celebrations also mean a significant uptick in drinking and driving.
In an effort to reduce the harm caused by drunk drivers in SW Florida and across the USA, the NHTSA has kicked off “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” for 2021.
Beginning August 23rd and running until September 6th, the NHTSA’s campaign aims to reduce deaths and injuries by raising awareness and educating people about the dangers and consequences of driving while drunk.
Sobering Statistics
• More than 10,000 Americans lose their lives in drunk driving accidents every year
• Approximately every 52 minutes someone dies from a drunk driving crash
• 451 People Died From Crashes During Labor Day Weekend Alone in 2019
• 45% Of Labor Day Crashes Involved A Drunk Driver
The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) states that during the Labor Day holiday period, we typically see a significant increase in drunk-driving deaths. In response to the increase in drunk drivers, you'll likely see more law enforcement on Florida roads as part of Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
Legal Consequences For Driving Under The Influence
For those who have chosen to drive under the influence the penalties in Florida are harsh. Even first-time offenders can be subject to any of the following:
• Fines from $2,000 - $4,000
• Jail Time Up To 9 Months (court’s discretion)
• Mandatory 50 hrs of community service
• Probation up to a year
• Your Driver's License Can Be Suspended For 6–18 months.
Please talk to your friends and families about not driving if they intend on drinking. Given the above legal penalties, even if no one has been injured, driving drunk can be a life-altering problem.
How You Can Help SW Florida Reduce Drunk Driving
• Plan ahead and make sure you designate a sober driver or use a ride service to go out and get back home safely.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact 911 and help the police stop them before anyone gets hurt.
• Talk to your friends and family about what happens to people convicted of driving under the influence.
What To Do If You Or Someone You Know Has Been Injured By A Drunk Driver
As experienced auto accident injury lawyers, we have seen the damage drunk driving crashes cause for the lives of innocent drivers and pedestrians in our area.
Drunk driving causes real people in our community life-altering harm. Serious injuries that cause long-term disabilities and medical bills, deaths, criminal records, emotional pain and suffering, and more. If you have been the victim of a drunk driving accident, you deserve the full compensation allowed under the law. Contact Attorney Brian O. Sutter today for your free attorney consultation.