From Reg M. Gill

Lafayette County Sheriff

And Troy J. Loeffelholz

Lafayette County Chief Deputy

To the Editor:

As loved ones come together to celebrate this holiday season, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement agencies across the state are asking everyone to protect themselves and their neighbors by always driving sober.  

The holiday season is one of the deadliest times of year when it comes to drunk driving. During the 2019 Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday periods, there were more drunk driving-related deaths across the US than during any other holiday period that year. 

Someone is killed or injured in an alcohol-related crash every three hours in Wisconsin. These tragedies are preventable. Last year, 167 lives could have been saved if a drunk driver had found a safe ride home instead of getting behind the wheel. 

Drivers impaired by alcohol or other drugs pose a danger to themselves, their passengers and everyone else on our roads. As part of our year-round public safety efforts, our office is joining the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, which runs from December 15 through New Year’s Day. 

This is not just about stopping, citing, or arresting drivers. This is about saving lives and preventing tragedies. 

To help identify impaired drivers on our roads, 5,752 law enforcement officers in Wisconsin are trained in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement. Wisconsin also has 347 highly trained Drug Recognition Experts, which is among the most in the nation.

Every person plays an important role in making our roads safer. Never allow someone to drive impaired. If you see a driver you suspect is under the influence, call 911 and provide as much detail as you can. Protect yourself and your passengers by choosing a safe ride home instead of taking the risk of driving while impaired. 

While the campaign is focused on the holiday season, it is our mission to stop impaired driving all year long and we will continue our efforts on the roads. 

Thank you for your support throughout the year to help keep our streets and communities safe.