Law enforcement agencies in North Dakota are concerned with keeping the streets of their communities safe for all. Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol place everyone on the road at risk and are responsible for hundreds of serious, and even fatal, accidents each year. Along with individual traffic stops, police routinely conduct sobriety checkpoints to identify drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol. One such recent checkpoint netted more than 100 citations and dozens of arrests for DUI.
Drive sober campaign
From Dec. 14, 2022, to Jan. 31, 2023, various law enforcement agencies across the state took part in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. The high-profile initiative was meant to raise awareness of traffic safety while memorializing the individuals who lost their lives because of impaired drivers. The campaign also sought to hold those accountable who choose to drive intoxicated.
During the campaign, officers issued 133 alcohol or drug-related citations. Sixty-six individuals were arrested for DUI, and 23 others were arrested or cited for alcohol-related crimes such as minor in possession and open container. Police also arrested 34 individuals on drug-related charges. Of course, an arrest is not a conviction, and the formal allegations are subject to challenge in criminal court.
The Vision Zero initiative
Reports state that one in six adults was arrested in North Dakota in 2021 for DUI. The state has a Vision Zero initiative that aims to reduce motor vehicle fatalities and serious injuries from preventable auto accidents, such as those caused by intoxicated driving. These sober driving campaigns serve to help reduce the number of alcohol and drug-related accidents, but those arrested now face considerable challenges that could affect their lives and future. It’s important that anyone in North Dakota arrested for DUI or any other serious drug or alcohol-related traffic offense consult an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. A lawyer can challenge all evidence against the accused and fight to help obtain the best outcome possible.
