[YOUR LETTERHEAD]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [DATE]	CONTACT: [NAME] [PHONE]

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON [STATE/COMMUNITY] AUTHORITIES GIVE IMPAIRED DRIVERS NOTICE: YOU DRINK & DRIVE. YOU LOSE.

Local Law Enforcement Agencies Increase December Holiday Patrols to Take Impaired Drivers Off [STATE /COMMUNITY] Roads

As families and friends come together all over [CITY/STATE] to celebrate this holiday season, [NAME OF SPON-SORING ORGANIZATION] will be increasing law enforcement patrols targeting impaired drivers in an effort to save lives by preventing alcohol-related crashes. This holiday season, [NAME OF SPONSORING ORGANIZATION] will join law enforcement agencies nationwide in taking a major step in intensifying the fight against impaired driving by launching the You Drink & Drive. You Lose. public education campaign.

Between December 17^th and December 19^th , [CITY/STATE] authorities will be out in full force to stop impaired drivers. Authorities will conduct saturation patrols and set up sobriety checkpoints and youth sting operations aimed at preventing the sale of alcohol to minors. Violators will be subject to immediate arrest.

In an effort to prevent impaired driving [NAME OF SPONSORING ORGANIZATION] will also join local traffic safety partners like [NAME OF PARTNERS] to raise awareness about the deadly consequences of impaired driving.

“[NAME OF SPONSORING ORGANIZATION] wants to get the word out that impaired driving is a dangerous and, too often, deadly crime that we cannot afford to overlook in our community,” said [NAME, TITLE OF LOCAL SPOKESPERSON]. “It is time to address impaired driving as a serious issue that costs our residents millions of dollars each year in lost time, lost property and, most importantly, lost lives. The greatest tragedy is that deaths due to alcohol-related crashes are preventable — these are not accidents.”

By partnering with national partners like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other traffic safety organizations, [NAME OF SPONSORING ORGANIZATION] hopes to save lives in [CITY/STATE] and help reach the national goal of reducing alcohol-related deaths nationwide to no more than 11,000 by the year 2005.

While the number of deaths has decreased in recent years, alcohol remains a significant contributing factor in motor vehicle crashes. Last year, impaired drivers were responsible for nearly 16,000 fatalities nationwide, 305,000 reported injuries and an estimated 1.5 million arrests.

[INSERT LOCAL STATISTICS AND/OR LOCAL RELEVANT CRASH STORY]

The December holiday enforcement period is one of three special emphasis periods conducted under NHTSA’s You Drink & Drive. You Lose. public education campaign. These enforcement periods serve as valuable opportunities to heighten [NAME OF SPONSORING ORGANIZATION]’s commitment and efforts to keep our roads safe and save lives.

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