Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area To Look For Drunk Drivers This Weekend

Hot, sunny days, cool river water, and cold beverages seem to go well together in the summer. But if your drinks contain alcohol, best not drive, least of all in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, where rangers will be looking for impaired drivers.

NRA Superintendent John Donahue says his rangers will be on the roads during the Fourth of July weekend as part of an enforcement blitz to deal with impaired drivers. The campaign coincides with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Program, Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.

Park rangers will be operating a sobriety checkpoint on Friday, July 2, along U.S. Route 209. Law enforcement rangers will team up with officers from the Eastern Pike Regional Police Department during this high visibility enforcement event in an effort to increase public awareness to park visitors and local commuters. This joint operation will build stronger working relationships with neighboring law enforcement agencies to improve
traffic safety and enhance visitor experiences on park roadways, according to a release from the NRA.

“Driving while drunk is not worth the tremendous risk. No matter your age, if you have had too much holiday spirit, you should find a safe and sober ride home or your chances of arrest are high,” said Chief Ranger Eric Lisnik.

While vehicles are stopped at checkpoints, officers will make every effort to ensure stops will be brief to minimize any inconvenience. If alcohol or drug use is detected, rangers can arrest the driver on a charge of operating under the influence.

Park rangers at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area will be conducting a number of checkpoints and saturation patrols with local agencies throughout 2010. The intent of this effort is to reduce the number of alcohol related injuries and assure the proper use of seat-belts while protecting park resources and providing greater public safety. This High Visibility Enforcement Campaign is part of an ongoing program; additional checkpoints are scheduled over both Labor Day and Halloween weekends.