Originally Released: January 22, 2024.

  Two hundred thirty-six drivers were cited for traffic violations during a December two-day crackdown on impaired driving which involved all law enforcement agencies in Dane County, according to the Dane County Traffic Safety Commission (TSC). On December 15 and 29, the Wisconsin State Patrol, Dane County Sheriff’s Office and all Dane County police departments implemented increased enforcement looking for impaired drivers through the “Drive Sober, Get Pulled Over” campaign organized by the TSCs law enforcement subgroup. Lt. Chad O’Neil, Stoughton Police Department, co-chairs that group. “This was the first time in recent history when all 22 county law enforcement agencies conducted simultaneous enforcement to stop driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” Lt. O’Neil said. During this two-day effort, these agencies recorded:

• 385 stops of vehicles whose drivers were suspected of impaired driving or other traffic violations
• 296 verbal or written warnings for risky driving behavior, including 57 for speeding
• 236 traffic citations were issued, including 52 for speeding, a number of which were for drivers exceeding the speed limit by 20 m.p.h. or more.
• 7 arrests for OWI (operating a vehicle while intoxicated). An additional 21 arrests were made for other criminal violations

Law enforcement agencies dedicated over 486 combined hours conducting this enforcement campaign, which was planned during the holidays, when driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is especially common. “This effort brought together smaller and larger law enforcement agencies across the county with one purpose: to save lives and reduce injuries,” Lt. O’Neil said. “We just want people to think and not drive if they’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We can’t measure the number of people who decided not to drive because of this campaign. But we can measure statistics on traffic stops when dangerous behavior is observed. They tell a story that is a good reminder for us all.”