ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Law enforcement agencies are teaming up to crack down on drunk driving this holiday season.
The S.C. Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies are coming together for their annual 'Sober or Slammer' campaign.
With an increase in holiday parties, family and social gatherings at this time of year, highway patrol says drivers will see an increase in law enforcement presence and drunk driving messaging throughout the state and social media.
"We’re going to be out looking for impaired drivers who go to a holiday party and make that poor decision to drive," says Master Trooper David Jones with the S.C. Highway Patrol. "Statistically, 3 people a day lose their life on SC roadways. During the holiday season, we tend to see that fatality rate spike."
Trooper Jones says it isn’t just other people one has to keep in mind but also property. A drunk driver is behind bars after investigators say he ran his vehicle into the historic "Annie" helicopter near the Columbia airport.
"We are talking about a multi-million dollar helicopter that was struck by an impaired driver who was arrested," says Jones. "We often wonder how could that happen. Day in and day out as Troopers, we see where lives are destroyed. We see where communities are destroyed. And, in this instance, a nonprofit been affected and took a big hit from this. So, don’t put yourself in that position."