Motorists throughout the state will notice a heightened law enforcement presence over the long July 4th holiday.

Officers will work overtime to save lives by enforcing Louisiana’s DWI laws and removing impaired drivers from the roadways as part of a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. The high visibility enforcement wave, July 2-6, is made possible by federal grants awarded by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.

According to preliminary data, there were 374 fatal and injury crashes in Louisiana over the four-day July 4th holiday in 2014. These crashes injured 650 motorists and killed 10. Seven of the 10 fatalities were alcohol related.

“The Fourth of July holiday is a time of celebration, parades and parties, but there are always some people who will mar the celebrations by driving impaired and causing accidents. In addition, the holiday tends to be a popular one for travel, particularly when it occurs over a weekend, as it does this year, which means there will be more people on the roadways. We want to make sure everyone arrives safely. That’s why we take these enforcement and public awareness efforts so seriously,” said Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director John LeBlanc. Traffic fatalities in Louisiana have declined almost 30 percent from 2007 to 2013, and officials attribute at least part of the improvement to safety programs such as Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

“If you’re going to drink, don’t even think of driving, and don’t get in a vehicle with anyone who has been drinking,” LeBlanc continued. He also reminded motorists to use seat belts in front and back seats. “All passengers in Louisiana should be properly secured in a seat belt or age-appropriate child safety seat. It’s not only the law. It’s the single most important thing you can do to save your life in the event of a crash.”

In 2014, about 48.7 percent of all fatal crashes occurred on the three days of weekends (Fridays through Sundays) and most occurred in the evening and early morning hours, according to preliminary data.

LeBlanc said the campaign is designed to target holiday periods and other times when more vehicles are on the road and impaired driving has posed a greater problem.

Driving while intoxicated is a serious offense in Louisiana, with a first-offense arrest costing thousands of dollars in fines, court costs, attorney fees and even jail time. An adult driver is legally intoxicated in Louisiana if his or her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08 or higher. The limit for drivers under 21 is .02 BAC.