PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — The Scioto County Sheriff’s Office is joining a national effort to reduce drunk driving during the Labor Day holiday period. From August 19 through September 7, 2026, local law enforcement will partner with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” high-visibility enforcement campaign.
The campaign aims to deter impaired driving and prevent traffic fatalities through increased patrols and public awareness. Sheriff David Thoroughman emphasized community safety in a news release issued August 18, 2026.
“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” Thoroughman said. “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is an awareness effort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it kills. Let’s make this a partnership between law enforcement and drivers: Help us protect the community and put an end to this dangerous behavior.”
NHTSA data referenced in the release shows that during the 2024 Labor Day holiday period (6 p.m. August 30 to 5:59 a.m. September 3), 505 people died in traffic crashes nationwide. Of those fatalities, approximately one-third involved a drunk driver. Seventy-seven percent of the impaired drivers killed had a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or higher. Among drivers ages 18 to 34 who were killed in crashes during that period, 40 percent were drunk with a BAC of .08 or higher.
These figures align closely with official NHTSA reporting on the same holiday period, which recorded 505 traffic fatalities with 33 percent involving a drunk driver and 77 percent of those involving a BAC of .15 or more. Nationally in 2024, alcohol-impaired driving accounted for 30 percent of all traffic fatalities.
Under Ohio law, it is illegal to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher. Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.19 prohibits operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them, or with prohibited alcohol concentrations in the blood, breath, or urine.
Officials urge anyone planning to drink during Labor Day gatherings to arrange a safe ride home in advance. Options include designating a sober driver, using a taxi or rideshare service, or staying overnight. Impairment affects judgment, so waiting until after drinking to decide how to get home increases risk.
If a driver realizes they cannot drive safely, they should hand their keys to a sober person. Friends and family are encouraged to intervene by taking keys from someone who has been drinking and helping them find alternative transportation. Anyone who observes a suspected impaired driver should contact local law enforcement.
For additional information on impaired driving prevention, visit NHTSA.gov/DrunkDriving.
