Alcohol related auto accidents – which occur roughly once every 51 minutes according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – are sobering reminders of the dangers of impaired and intoxicated driving. In Georgia, the New Year's Holiday became yet another reminder.
Reports from the Georgia Department of Public Safety revealed that beginning at 6:00 p.m. New Year's Eve into New Year's Day, there were a total of four fatal alcohol related crashes statewide and a total of five deaths. The deaths come during an increased DUI enforcement period during which law enforcement officers throughout the state were increasing their focus on arresting motorists suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Although statistics from the holiday anti-DUI campaign have not yet been made available, past data from the holiday period have shown thousands of alcohol related traffic crashes. In light of the likely many DUI arrests, accidents, injuries, and fatalities that occurred this past year, officers in Atlanta and Georgia remain committed to enforcing harsh DUI laws. In fact, the Georgia State Patrol was recently awarded a traffic safety H.E.A.T. grant of nearly $2.4 million from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety to continue its DUI task force into late September of 2014. H.E.A.T. stands for Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic.
If you or someone you care about has recently been charged with DUI during this past holiday season, the time to place your trust in proven Atlanta DUI attorneys is now. At the Law Offices of Howard J. Weintraub, our legal team has extensive experience handling the full range of DUI charges, including even the most serious. To learn more about your case and how our firm can help, call (404) 907-1536 for a consultation.