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The Bogalusa Police Department will be participating in a “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign starting Friday, July 1, and continuing through Tuesday, July 5, according to BPD Assistant Police Chief Percy Knight.

During this period, the BPD will be conducting a DWI checkpoint somewhere inside the city limits of Bogalusa. This campaign is a grant sponsored by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission (LHSC).

While the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign has been around for many years, impaired driving continues to be a problem in Louisiana, so the message obviously has not gotten through to some people, said Lisa Freeman, LHSC executive director.

According to preliminary statistics from the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU, 100 people were injured, and six people were killed in alcohol-related crashes during last year’s Independence Day holiday.

“Six people died during one holiday period last year because people thought it was OK to drive after they had been drinking,” Freeman said. “One of the biggest travel threats to families is an impaired driver, so we are taking impaired drivers off the highway to ensure safety for travelers this holiday.”

Freeman also encouraged everyone to watch out for friends or family members who may be impaired and need a ride.

“Alcohol and drugs — even legal, prescription drugs — can impair your judgment, slow your reflexes and change your depth perception,” Freeman said. “Your friend or family member may truly believe he or she is fine to drive, but it only takes one drink to impact all the faculties you need to be a safe driver.”