Law Enforcement Urge Safety While Driving This New Year’s Holiday

Local and state law enforcement officials are urging caution this New Year’s holiday.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety says its New Year’s travel period begins at 6 p.m. tonight and ends at midnight on Sunday, January 4.

That is a total of 102 hours.

Last year during a 30-hour holiday period for New Year’s, Georgia State Patrol troopers investigated 131 crashes that resulted in one fatality and 66 injuries.

The New Year’s holiday travel period is a mobilization period for “Operation Zero Tolerance.”

During “Operation Zero Tolerance,” Georgia state troopers team up with local law enforcement from across the state for a high-visibility campaign that targets impaired drivers.

During the New Year’s holiday last year, the GSP arrested 155 people for driving under the influence.

Georgia Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mark McDonough said people need to remember that if they plan on consuming alcoholic beverages, have a designated driver in place.

McDonough added that they want everyone to enjoy the holiday, but also to know that if they drive impaired, they will go to jail and have their vehicle impounded.

State troopers will be out on full patrols with local law enforcement looking to spot motorists not obeying the traffic laws.

McDonough said drivers need to remember to leave plenty of time to get to their destination, make sure everyone is wearing a seatbelt, children are properly restrained, avoid texting and driving, and obeying the posted speed limit.