Havre police look out for drunken drivers

For many, Labor Day weekend is a last hoorah before autumn routine takes back over on the road to winter. For the Havre Police Department this weekend is an opportunity to remind people to make sure that hoorah is a safe one.

Havre Police are joining the nationwide "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign to increase awareness of the consequences of drunken driving.

"Every holiday that approaches, we try to get the word out about drinking and driving and finding alternative transportation, " Havre Police Chief Kirk Fitch said.

A press release for the initiative says that "147 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving drivers or motorcycle riders with (blood alcohol concentration) of. 08 or higher. Of those fatalities, 80 percent occurred from 6 p. m. to 5:59 a. m."

Of those drivers and riders between the ages of 18 to 34, 54 percent were drunk.

The department also reminds anyone who might still feel like taking chances driving drunk that driving under the influence of alcohol can lead to "jail time, loss of their driver licenses, and steep financial consequences such as higher insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job.

"When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators also often face tremendous personal embarrassment. "