Borough to beef up DWI enforcement

HELMETTA - Borough police will use extra patrols to stop drunken drivers on the roads through Sept. 3.

The stepped-up patrols are being funded with a grant as part of New Jersey's "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" 2007 campaign. Many departments around the state have extra officers on the road from Aug. 17 to Sept. 3, as the end of summer and Labor Day weekend are traditionally a time for social gatherings that include alcohol.

Helmetta Police Chief Cully Lewis said the department was using its own officers for the grant, and the exact schedule was still being set up earlier this week.

The goal of the program is to use high-visibility enforcement to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving, and to arrest those who choose to drive while impaired. Program organizers advise the public to use a designated driver or call a cab if they plan to drink, and they advise others to report impaired drivers and to buckle up.

"The summer driving season and the Labor Day holiday are a time for fun with friends and family, not tragedy," said Pam Fischer, director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "The law enforcement community and safety organizations of the state are committed to eliminating impaired driving from our roads."