Labor Day weekend is coming up and for many Americans, that means an extra day off, backyard barbecues and visiting friends and family. Unfortunately, it also means a sharp increase in drunk-driving-related fatalities.

Starting this weekend, the August Crackdown 2014 will begin and runs Aug. 15 through Sept. 1.  Law enforcement will be aggressively targeting drunk drivers as part of a nationwide effort to save lives. The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign will pair increased public awareness with high-visibility enforcement, resulting in fewer drunk drivers on Natrona County roads.

In 2013, Natrona County had 2,299 vehicle crashes, 161 of which were alcohol related. Four people died in alcohol-related crashes and 83 people were injured. Last year, 593 adults and 29 youths were arrested for DUI.

The average DUI costs more than $12,000, but the personal cost is much greater: Imagine telling your family you were arrested or you may have killed someone in a crash. Imagine blowing into a tube every morning and planning life around a Breathalyzer every night. Imagine having to tell your boss you need to leave in the middle of the work day for a probation appointment. You are now living the DUI Life!

Region #2 Safe Communities, a program of Wyoming Medical Center, wants to remind you that if you are driving buzzed or drunk, you will be arrested. Remember: “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.

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