Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS) announced the start of the annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement and public awareness campaign aimed at preventing crashes caused by alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers.
Running from August 19 through Labor Day, September 7, the campaign is part of a nationwide, high-visibility enforcement effort during one of the busiest travel periods of the summer. Drivers can expect increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints focused on identifying and removing impaired drivers from New Jersey’s roadways.
HTS has awarded more than $511,580 in grant funding to 106 local law enforcement agencies and $191,153 to the New Jersey State Police to support additional impaired-driving enforcement. Police departments will also participate in the mobilization as part of their ongoing commitment to reducing preventable crashes, injuries, and deaths. The complete grantee list is available here.
During New Jersey’s 2025 Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, participating law enforcement agencies made 1,612 impaired-driving arrests and issued 6,228 speeding summonses, 3,192 seat belt citations, and 1,526 cell-phone use citations. Officers also issued 88,599 additional summonses for other motor vehicle violations.
“A celebration should never end with someone taking a chance behind the wheel,” said Attorney General Davenport. “Impaired drivers put our children, passengers, families, pedestrians, cyclists, police officers, and everyone else using our roads in danger. Make the responsible decision before the festivities begin. Arrange a sober ride, designate a driver, or stay where you are. There is never an acceptable reason to drive impaired.”
According to the most recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 11,367 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes nationwide in 2024, accounting for approximately 20 percent of all traffic fatalities. That represents approximately 31 people killed every day in impaired driving crashes alone.
In New Jersey, 186 people were killed in crashes involving an alcohol- or drug-impaired driver in 2024. Impaired driving was a contributing factor in approximately 27 percent of the state’s fatal crashes during that period.
The risks extend beyond alcohol. Cannabis, certain prescription medications, illegal drugs, and combinations of substances can affect judgment, coordination, reaction time, and the ability to safely operate a vehicle. A driver may be impaired even when the effects are not immediately obvious.
“Impairment affects judgment before many drivers recognize that they are no longer capable of driving safely,” said Michael J. Rizol Jr., Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “That is why the safest decision must be made in advance. Plan your ride home before drinking or using any impairing substance. A rideshare, taxi, sober friend, or overnight stay may require a little planning, but those choices are far better than an arrest, a crash, or a life permanently changed.”
Drivers arrested for impaired driving face license suspension, significant fines and fees, higher insurance costs, mandatory participation in education or treatment programs, ignition interlock requirements, and possible incarceration. An impaired driver who causes a serious or fatal crash may also face years in prison and a permanent criminal record.
The Division of Highway Traffic Safety urges everyone to plan a safe ride before drinking or using any impairing substance, never ride with or allow an impaired person to drive, and report suspected impaired drivers when it is safe to do so by calling 911.
“Preventing impaired-driving tragedies is a responsibility we all share,” said Director Rizol. “Law enforcement will be highly visible throughout the mobilization, but every driver, passenger, friend, and family member also has a role to play. Make a plan, drive sober, and help others get home safely.”
For more information about impaired driving and other traffic safety initiatives, visit the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety website, www.NJSafeRoads.com.