NSP & Local Agencies Report 'Drive Sober' Results

During the final two weeks of 2023, troopers participated in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. The campaign ran from December 15 through January 1 and included hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the country.

“The holidays are always a busy time of year on Nebraska roadways, and with a winter storm right in the middle this year, our troopers were working around the clock to keep roads safe,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.

During the campaign, troopers made 65 arrests for driving under the influence. Troopers also cited 985 drivers for speeding, including 51 drivers for traveling at 100 miles per hour or higher. Citations were also issued for no seat belt (15), improper child restraint (14), open alcohol container (31), minor in possession of alcohol (35), and driving under suspension (111). Troopers also performed 656 motorist assists and responded to 123 crashes during the campaign.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over effort was made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation - Highway Safety Office.

As the new year begins, NSP reminds all motorists to be prepared for winter driving conditions over the next few months. Check Nebraska’s 511 system for updated road conditions and keep a winter travel kit in your vehicle, including items such as:

Water                                                        Food
First Aid kit                                               Warm clothes and blankets
Hat and gloves                                          Cell phone charger
Jumper cables                                            Bag of sand, salt, or ice melt
Flashlight                                                  Ice scraper

The Hall County Sheriff’s Department was awarded $5,563.08 by Nebraska Highway Safety to carry out the Selective Overtime Enforcement for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. This allows deputies to work overtime hours and focus on impaired driving enforcement. This will ran from December 11th, 2023 – January 1st 2024. The following is the results of this campaign.

108 hours worked
6 DUI arrests
3 MIP citations
8 speeding citations
1 DDS citation
42 total citations
112 contacts

The Grand Island Police Department was awarded $9,281.24 from the Office of Highway Safety/NDOT to work selective overtime as part of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization campaign from Dec. 15th to Jan. 1st.  This enforcement was set to target people driving impaired (alcohol or drug related) to help reduce fatal and serious injury crashes in Nebraska, Hall County, and Grand Island.  During this period GIPD officers worked a total of 117 overtime hours as part of this grant.  The total number of contacts for the department during this period is listed below. 

Total grant hours worked:  117
Total Traffic Stops: 473
Traffic Warnings: 230
Traffic Citations : 225
Total Arrests: 245
DUI Arrests: 31
MIP Arrests: 6

Proactive enforcement by officers of the Grand Island Police Department and grant funding opportunities by the NE Dept. of Highway Safety, made this possible.  It shows the hard work GIPD officers did during this time period to enforce the various traffic regulations, curbing traffic crashes, and taking impaired drivers off the street so they don’t endanger the public or cause other crashes.  Multiple people were arrested for 245 various violations (criminal & traffic), some of which were attributed to the same person.