Law Enforcement Stepping Up DUI Patrols Ahead Of Big Football Party Weekend
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Super Bowl is just days away, but state records show the partying starts long before Sunday, and so does DUI enforcement.
Police in the Pittsburgh area are going to be cracking down this year.
It has become one of the biggest celebrations of the year.
"There's a lot of parties that go along with that," said Sgt. Doug Ogden, of the West Hills DUI Task Force. "In the past we've seen a spike of DUI crashes, a spike of DUI occurrences as a result of that celebration, no matter what teams are involved."
So the DUI task forces are going out in force to make sure everyone gets home alive.
"Come out and have a good time, enjoy yourselves, but do it responsibly. Don't put yourself and others in danger by driving impaired," said Sgt. Terry Donnelly, of the Pittsburgh DUI Task Force.
Each DUI task force will chose its enforcement method, and yes, there will be some sobriety checkpoints, but most officers will be patrolling.
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"All they are doing is looking for impaired drivers, that's it," said Sgt. Oden. "They're stopping cars, as many as they can for whatever violation and interact with that driver to see if that driver is impaired."
The officers will be looking for drivers impaired by alcohol and/or drugs, and they encourage you to think ahead.
"There's all kinds of public transportation now that's available, private transportation with the Uber services and things like that, or just have a designated driver among the party you are going out with," said Sgt. Oden.
Enforcement is not restricted to Pittsburgh or Allegheny County, it is statewide, and the bulk of the crackdown starts Friday night.
