By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO Labor Day celebrations, barbecues and end-of-summer harrahs are right around the corner and the police will be taking measures to catch those who party too hard before getting behind the wheel.
The Plainsboro police will be cracking down on drunk drivers from Aug. 17 to Sept. 3 as part of their annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” summer campaign. For almost 20 days, police officers will increase patrols and sobriety checkpoints, specifically to nab drivers who may have had one too many beers.
The crackdown is part of a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the dangers and repercussions of drinking and driving. In addition, police use public education tools such as posters, banners and mobile video display signs to prevent people from making potentially life-threatening decisions.
”Many people believe that after a few drinks they’re still safe to drive,” said Gary Poedubicky, the acting director of the Division of Highway Safety Traffic. “Even one drink can impair your judgment and reaction time, putting not only yourself, but everyone on the road in danger.”
The nationwide campaign launched in 1999 to help towns battle drunk driving during the summer, one of the busier travel times of the year when people are vacationing and visiting family and friends.
As part of the initiative, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety gives grants to local police departments throughout the state to run the two-week campaign.

