Halloween H.E.A.T. Patrols Target Metro Area 
Weekend DUI Crackdown NO TREAT For Drunk Drivers

ATLANTA 9October 27, 2006) - Don’t let your Halloween weekend turn into a nightmare! 

   One of the least-known facts about America’s scariest celebration has transformed it into one of the most truly terrifying nights on the town: Georgians who drive drunk have morphed this festive weekend into one of the year’s most dangerous and deadly holidays due to alcohol-related crashes.

   On Halloween, more than half of all fatal crashes on our nation’s highways are alcohol-related. “We’re not talking kids’-stuff anymore,” says Director Bob Dallas of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “Just like on Cinco de Mayo and St. Patrick’s Day, impaired adults behaving badly have mutated this weekend meant for kids, candy and costume parties into another deadly drinking and driving weekend on the Atlanta social calendar.”

   What makes this year even scarier is that Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, October 29th. So the confusion of the annual time change is scheduled for the same weekend when many children may be out trick-or-treating on the same roads where adults are drinking and driving. “It will be getting dark earlier and our kids may be crossing the same streets where those impaired adults may be out driving,” says GOHS Director Dallas. “The long Halloween holiday weekend means more parties and potentially more impaired drivers during an observance that already has a dangerously high rate of drunk-driving deaths.” 

   To keep your Halloween party-plans from dissolving into nightmares, law enforcement is suiting-up to conduct Halloween road-checks and concentrated patrols around the Atlanta Metro Area this weekend. APD Special Operations Commander Calvin Moss says, “These road checks will be set-up at locations known to be high-traffic, heavy congestion, and historic crash areas. Police will also be patrolling the interstates.. I-85, I-75, I-285 and I-20.” 

   And this is no skeleton crew! On Friday, October 27th, H.E.A.T. Units from the Atlanta Police Department will join up with HEAT Units from Clayton, DeKalb and Cobb County Police, and DUI enforcement units from Hapeville and Austell PD to crackdown on drunk drivers. APD DUI Task Force Commander Sgt. Ron Miniatis says, “We know from experience that these sobriety checkpoints around DeKalb, Clayton, Fulton, and Atlanta are an effective way to maximize our deterrent efforts. We look forward to coordinate these life-saving plans with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and our Metro Atlanta law enforcement partners.” 

   HEAT Patrols are no treat for DUI’s! South of Atlanta, Peachtree City Police will work with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Motor Carrier Compliance Division and the Georgia State Patrol to conduct sobriety road checks throughout the night. 

   Peachtree City Police Chief James V. Murray says, “Some of these road check locations are high-volume corridors, and some locations have been requested by local residents and homeowners to help slow-down speeders around their neighborhoods. We know from experience that sobriety checkpoints are an effective way to maximize our DUI deterrent efforts.”

   Atlanta, Clayton and DeKalb Police HEAT Units will be back out again Saturday, then Atlanta and Clayton PD will return to the road with DUI patrols on Sunday. GOHS Director Dallas says, “These members of the Metro Atlanta Traffic Enforcement Network (MATEN) consistently provide the kind of high-profile traffic law enforcement required to save lives on our highways. The presence of concentrated HEAT Unit patrols significantly increases public awareness and acts as a deterrent to many would-be impaired drivers. This combined police, sheriff’s and State Trooper enforcement effort is the kind of protection the public deserves this Halloween weekend and year-round.”