08/19/2026
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 18, 2026
Letās Work Together to End Drunk Driving!
Jasper, FLā From August 19 through September 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportationās National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be working alongside the Jasper Police Department to deter drunk driving and prevent tragedies during the Labor Day holiday weekend.
The message is clear: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
During the 2024 Labor Day holiday (6 p.m. August 30 - 5:59 a.m. September 3), there were 505 traffic crash fatalities nationwide. Of these 505 fatalities, 34% (170) involved a drunk driver. Seventy-seven percent of the impaired drivers killed had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher.
Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday in 2024, 40% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher. During this same Labor Day Holiday there were two impaired driver arrests in Jasper, one of which resulted in a traffic crash with serious bodily injuries.
āWe want our community members to understand that itās our first priority to keep people safe, so weāre asking everyone to plan ahead if they know theyāll be out drinking,ā said Chief Scott Pepin.
āThe Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is an awareness effort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it kills. Letās make this a partnership between the Jasper Police Department and drivers: Help us protect the community and put an end to this dangerous behavior.ā
If a driver intends to drink during a Labor Day festivity, he or she should plan ahead for a safe ride home by securing a designated driver or calling a taxi or rideshare. They shouldnāt wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Impairment clouds a personās judgment and endangers others on the road.
If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive ā take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots a drunk driver, contact Hamilton County Dispatch at 386-792-1001 or dial 911.
For more information on impaired driving, visit NHTSA.gov/DrunkDriving.
CONTACT:
Captain Lorne Smith
386-792-1130
[email protected]
