Lincoln Police, Nebraska troopers join nationwide initiative to prevent drunken driving

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Local law enforcement will be cracking down on drunken driving starting Wednesday.

So far this year, the Nebraska State Patrol has made 821 DUI arrests, a 23% increase from this point last year.

Traffic fatalities are also up 26% from this point last year.

The goal of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is to save lives and prevent the tragedies caused by impaired driving by raising awareness and enhancing enforcement.

“Every drunk driver arrested is another life potentially saved,” said Col. John Bolduc, superintendent of the patrol.

The Lincoln Police Department is also involved in the campaign, which runs through Sept. 2.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation is giving law enforcement a $277,000 grant to fund this initiative.