Cinnaminson Police Crack Down On Drunk Drivers

Starting today, are participating in the Over The Limit, Under Arrest initiative, aimed at cracking down on intoxicated drivers in our area.

The department received the grant, for the second year in a row, in the amount of $4,400.

“It puts officers on the street to specifically attempt to identify and arrest drivers under the influence,” said .

From today until Sept. 5, more Cinnaminson police officers will be on duty, mostly during nighttime hours. Last year, township officers logged 88 overtime hours paid for with the grant money. And, the program was a success, according to King.

There were eight arrests made for drivers who were intoxicated, six felony arrests, nine fugitive arrests, three drug arrests and 139 motor vehicle summons given out.

“That’s a pretty good investment,” said King.

But, the program isn’t about collecting money in tickets and fines, King said; it’s about cracking down on fatalities.

“If you look back [in 2009], there were 583 motor vehicle fatalities in all of New Jersey,” King said.

A quarter of them were alcohol-related, and Burlington County is sixth highest county in the state among alcohol-related fatalities.

“Just those eight we arrested for drunk driving,” King said, “that’s possibly eight alcohol-related fatalities these guys prevented.”

King credits Officer Kevin Bohn for coordinating grant efforts and overseeing the scheduling of officers during the program.

Law enforcement agencies participating in Over the Limit, Under Arrest offer the following advice:

• If you plan to drink, designate a driver, someone who will not drink alcohol, before going out;
• Take mass transit, a taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you home;
• Spend the night where the activity is held; 
• Report impaired drivers to law enforcement. In New Jersey, drivers may dial #77 to report a drunk or aggressive driver;
• Always buckle up, every ride, regardless of your seating position in the vehicle. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver;
• If you’re intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive you to your doorstep