Begin Main Content Area

Police, Lehigh Valley DUI/Highway Safety Task Force to Step Up Enforcement Activities on St. Patrick’s Day and Beyond Stay Lucky, Don’t Drive Impaired

03/16/2023

​The Lehigh Valley DUI/Highway Safety Task Forces urge all motorists planning to consume alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day to be responsible and plan ahead. The “luck o’ the Irish” can’t reverse a bad decision to drive impaired.


According to preliminary PennDOT data, during the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period beginning at 6:00 PM on Friday, March 11 running through 6:00 AM on Sunday, March 20, there were 313 crashes involving an impaired driver, resulting in four fatalities.

To increase safety on our roadways and reduce impaired driving, police departments throughout the Lehigh Valley, are stepping up enforcement activities during the St. Patrick’s Day Holiday and beyond. 

“There is no excuse for driving under the influence. The consequences for you and others can be devastating,” said Lehigh Township Officer and Impaired Driving Coordinator Jonathan Roth. “This police department and departments throughout the region will be out during the St. Patrick’s Day enforcement period in full force ensuring the roadways are safe for everyone.” 

Increased DUI enforcement activities include sobriety checkpoints and DUI roving patrols.

A sobriety checkpoint consists of the police setting up a roadblock in a designated area and stopping each vehicle that drives through the location. Drivers who appear to be driving under the influence of alcohol and/or controlled substances will be tested.

Roving patrols watch for motorists who appear to be driving under the influence. There are no roadblocks with roving patrols.

The Lehigh Valley DUI/Highway Safety Task Force has been in existence for 22 years and is comprised of PennDOT representatives, members of law enforcement, and business and health care communities. It raises public awareness about the dangers of impaired and aggressive driving, as well as the importance of seat belt usage.

The enforcement is part of Pennsylvania’s Highway Safety Program and is funded by part of PennDOT’s investment of federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For more information on impaired driving, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.


# # #