Gulfport PD participating in ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign

The Gulfport Police Department is cracking down this Labor Day on drunk drivers and releasing a campaign to help you understand your options if you find yourself in a difficult situation.

There’s no doubt that some people love to celebrate Labor Day with friends and a few drinks. However, DUI related deaths have risen by 14 percent. Drunk driving accounts for 31 percent of traffic related deaths.

‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled over’ is the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s program.

It’s a $13.8 million paid media campaign that will show you what to consider before getting behind the wheel intoxicated.

These things include having a designated driver, ordering an uber, and having a back-up plan if your ride falls through on Labor Day.

The goal is to prevent people from drunk driving, but there will be increased police presence during this time period. Sgt. Jason Ducre said, “I think a lot of people, they think ‘Oh, I’m just going to drink this, or just drink a little bit.’ and they think they’re fine to drive, but if you feel different, you drive different. It goes back to… we want to make sure everybody is celebrating responsibly and getting to where they need to go in a safe manner.”