The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced yesterday that Pennsylvania’s DUI Task Forces, the Pennsylvania State Police and municipal police departments from Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties will be conducting impaired-driving enforcement activities as part of a statewide Independence Day Mobilization. The mobilization runs through July 4th.

Police will target impaired drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs using roving patrols and checkpoints to enforce Pennsylvania’s DUI laws.

According to PennDOT data, in 2017 there were 12,137 impaired driving-related crashes in Pennsylvania. That is down from 12,757 such crashes in 2016.

Over the Independence Day holiday period last year, there were 2,902 crashes and 40 fatalities across Pennsylvania. Of those, 273 crashes and 10 fatalities were impaired driving-related.

PennDOT reports that while alcohol-impaired driving crashes are decreasing, drug-impaired driving crashes continue to increase. According to PennDOT data, in 2017 there were 4,301 drug related crashes and 145 fatalities statewide, an increase from the 4,143 crashes and 153 fatalities in 2016. Over the Independence Day holiday period last year, there were 108 drug related crashes, resulting in five fatalities.

If you are going to be on the water, they will also be focusing on boating under the influence.