| Updated: 12/28/2012 8:41 am |
Published: 12/27/2012 10:55 pm
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State Troopers with Oklahoma Highway Patrol will team up with agents of the ABLE Commission and Tulsa Police Officers to arrest DUI offenders and enforce other laws on New Year’s Eve.
Officials tell FOX23 that law enforcement will focus on seat belt violations, reckless drivers and DUI drivers.
"Our goal is simple” said Lt. George Brown spokesman for OHP, “To arrest as many DUI offenders as we can to make Tulsa a safe place to spend the holiday".
The joint effort will begin at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and last until 3:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
Because the holiday falls on Monday, ABLE Agents say that they will be ramping up efforts to make sure that drinking laws are adhered to inside drinking establishments.
“We’ll be out all weekend,” said Erik Smoot with the ABLE Commission.
Charlene Brown tells FOX23 she supports local law enforcement in their effort to stop DUI’s during the holiday weekend. Charlene’s’ husband, Mike, was hit head on in a collision with a drunk driver on June 10th, 2007.
“The scars will never heal because we are reminded daily,” said Charlene.
Mike sustained serious injuries but survived the wreck. Charlene is now an advocate for Stop DUIs and encourages drivers to be mindful of their every decision.
“Have a back-up plan, have friend pick you up of call a taxi,” said Charlene, “If you don’t have that then don’t go out and drink.”
Lt. Brown says that Troopers will work with Tulsa officers to target high collision and DUI areas like I-44, I-244 and Highways 75 & 189.
Brown added that they encourage people to plan safe New Year’s celebrations which include a sober means of transportation.
