Police To Step Up July 4 DUI Patrols In Somerset, Hunterdon Counties

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Drivers in Hunterdon and Somerset counties can expect increased enforcement over the July 4 holiday.

Local law enforcement agencies will join the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) for the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign.

The high-visibility enforcement effort is aimed at preventing impaired driving crashes, reducing injuries and saving lives, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office(SCPO).

Officers will be actively monitoring roadways and taking enforcement action against drivers who operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

According to NHTSA, 11,904 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers in 2024.

The agency also reported that 579 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes during the July 4 period that year, which ran from 6 p.m. July 2 through 5:59 a.m. on July 6.

"During the July 4th holiday, we will be out on the roads looking for impaired drivers," said SCPO Prosecutor John McDonald. "There will be zero tolerance for driving while impaired. Everyone knows the law – that it is illegal to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, yet some people continue to take the risk after a few too many. Our officers are trained to recognize the signs of impairment and will take action to keep our roadways safe. Impaired driving is a selfish and reckless decision that puts the driver, passengers, and everyone else on the road in danger."

The SCPO urges drivers to make a plan before going out.

Options include:

• Choosing a designated sober driver
• Calling a taxi or using a rideshare service
• Impaired drivers who are stranded with their vehicles should give their keys to a sober driver

Residents are also urged not to ride with an impaired driver and to step in if someone they know is about to drive while impaired.

The SCPO says people who see an impaired driver on the road should call 911.

Officials also pointed to the financial and long-term consequences of a DUI, noting that the cost of a taxi or rideshare is less than the fines and other impacts that can follow an impaired driving arrest.

The campaign message, they said, is the same for the holiday and every day: Drive sober or get pulled over.

More information about impaired driving is available from NHTSA at www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.

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