The following was in today's Pittsburgh Post Gazette:
"Police nationwide will begin a crackdown on drunken driving Dec. 16, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced today.A $7.5 million advertising campaign will try to discourage drinking and driving during the holiday season. In Pennsylvania, the Operation Safe Holiday program is in effect this month, with state police and 600 municipal forces participating in an effort to curb drunken driving, speeding and aggressive driving.
The organization Drive Safe Pa. pointed out that a DUI citation costs more than $1,000 plus court costs.
Last year, 11,773 people died nationally in crashes involving a driver whose blood alcohol level was 0.08 or higher. That represented a 9.7 percent decrease compared with 2007.
DUI deaths also declined in Pennsylvania, from 504 in 2007 to 496 last year. Those deaths made up 34 percent of crash fatalities in the state.
The nationwide crackdown continues through Jan. 3."
