During Super Bowl LVIII weekend, police agencies in Lehigh and Northampton counties will intensify their enforcement of the law against drunk driving on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, according to officials.
Sobriety checks, DUI roving patrols, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the Lehigh Valley DUI/Highway Safety Task Force are some examples of increased DUI enforcement measures.
It is advised that those who choose to drink alcohol do so in a responsible manner.
According to PennDOT, approximately 30% of all traffic deaths in Pennsylvania are caused by alcohol. Department data indicates that from Super Bowl Sunday to six a.m. the following day in 2022, there were 46 drunk driver crashes throughout the state. Furthermore, there were 348 more crashes throughout the state during that time.
Police erect a roadblock in a predetermined area and pull over every car that passes over it as part of a sobriety checkpoint. Tests will be conducted on drivers who seem to be operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Patrols that move around the country keep an eye out for drivers who seem to be intoxicated. Roadblocks with roaming patrols are absent.
According to PennDOT, the price of an arrest for impaired driving can vary significantly based on a number of criteria, such as the blood alcohol percentage, the location of the arrest, and the quantity of crimes committed. The impact on a driver’s pocketbook begins the instant they are pulled over by the police; in Pennsylvania, these costs include:
Traffic fine: $300 to $10,000, based on the amount of blood alcohol and the number of infractions
- Vehicle towing: miles plus a fixed cost of $50
- $75–175 per day for impound; $2,000–$8,000 or more for legal fees
- Evaluation of alcohol: $35–$100
- $100–1,800 for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD)
- Treatment and education: at least $100–$1,000
- License renewal: $184 for commercial use, $76 for non-commercial use
Insurance premium: a $1,000 annual rise or policy termination
Under Pennsylvania’s Zero Tolerance Law, drivers under the age of 21 who are found guilty of operating a vehicle while intoxicated face severe penalties. For instance, a conviction for driving under the influence with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 or above carries harsh penalties for individuals under the age of 21, such as a license suspension ranging from 12 to 18 months, a jail sentence of 48 hours to six months, and fines ranging from $500 to $5,000.
The National Institutes of Health provides a drink size calculator at rethinking drinking to help people who intend to drink sensibly keep track of how many standard drinks are in a serving.niaaa.nih.gov.
The NFL championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.
