Law Enforcement Officials Crack Down on DUI’s

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Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — State and local law enforcement officials are cracking down on impaired driving across the Palmetto State. “If you make a poor decision to drink and drive you should come to expect to see law enforcement and you will be arrested,” said Trooper David Jones. Starting this weekend and running through Labor Day state and local law enforcement officials are stepping up patrols and checkpoints across the midlands through their ‘Sober or Slammer’ campaign. “We don’t want to see people lose their lives and we surely don’t want to see innocent people lose their lives or become seriously injured because of a collision involving a DUI driver,” said Columbia Police Dept. Sgt. Derek Miller. Authorities say last year alone they arrested more than 23,000 drunk drivers, a number Trooper David Jones called staggering and unacceptable. “It’s something so simple that you could take a 5 minute cab ride and a $10 bill to get you home safely rather than upwards of $10,000 on a DUI charge or possibly 25 years in prison if you seriously hurt someone or kill someone,” said Jones. Along with cracking down on dui’s, officials said they will also be on the lookout for seatbelt and speeding violations to make sure the roadways are safe for travelers. “We’re going to go out and combat this problem because quite frankly it’s something we see in south carolina everyday, it’s unacceptable and it’s time to put a stop to it,” said Jones. Officials remind motorists if they see an impaired driver to call 911 or dial *HP.