Police campaign against drunk driving

This afternoon traffic at the Pallotti junction slowed down not because there was a traffic jam but because the National Drug Abuse Control Council, NDACC and the Police Youth Cadet Corp were handing out flyers and bumper stickers warning motorists of the dangers of driving under the influence.

Marlon McNab, Belize District Coord., NDACC

"The message that we are sending out is that alcohol wrecks lives and we are talking about whatever lives it is with any other drug you don’t have to be rich, poor or whatever; there is no discrimination to any drug. It will wreck your life."

McNab says a recent survey reveals that in 1999 there have been two hundred and fifty-eight cases of drunk driving. Although the exercise did temporarily delay drivers, they did not seem to mind.

Driver

"Oh I appreciate it very much because I know they have a lot of drivers who go and drink and then afterwards they go on the road. I hope this will be a lesson to everybody."

Q: "Christy, what will the police do to ensure that there are no drunk drivers on our roads?"

Christy Castillo, Police Press Officer

"For this Christmas season, actually for New Year’s now, we’re gonna have over two hundred and fifty officers and B.D.F. patrolling the streets. One of the main objectives for Traffic Department and Transport will be traffic checkpoints. We’ll be out there giving flyers up until midnight. After that we’ll be giving flyers and checking and making sure that people are driving safely within the law with their licenses, most importantly they are not drinking and driving. You drink, you drive, you lose; that’s what we want the community to realize now."

The police remind drivers that if they are caught drunk behind the wheel they will be arrested and charged. So if you are planning on going out this weekend and plan to do a lot of toasting, make sure you have a designated driver.