Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Clearfield County District Attorney's Office, Clearfield Regional Police Department, the Pennsylvania DUI Association (PA DUI) and the Highway Safety Network held a press conference at Shaw Public Library in Clearfield today where they urged motorists not to drive impaired this St. Patrick's Day.
“St. Patrick's Day is meant to be a fun holiday; a lighthearted celebration," said Clearfield County District Attorney Ryan Sayers. “Making a poor decision to get behind the wheel when intoxicated, however, can quickly turn that celebration into tragedy."
According to preliminary data from PennDOT, in 2023 there were 380 crashes in Pennsylvania during the St. Patrick's Day holiday period between Friday, March 17, and 6 a.m. Sunday, March 18. These resulted in 197 injuries and two fatalities. Impaired driving was determined to be the cause of many those incidents.
“Just one life lost to DUI is too many," Sayers said, noting that law enforcement steps up DUI patrols during the St. Patrick's holiday period, as well as around other holidays with historically high occurrences of impaired driving crashes.
In addition to the risk of injuries and fatalities caused by DUI crashes, those driving impaired can face stiff legal penalties if caught. Clearfield Regional Police Department Assistant Chief Julie Curry explained, “Pennsylvania laws have a tiered structure toward DUI enforcement and treatment, and may include license suspension, fines, and jail time. The combination of an individual's Blood Alcohol Content Concentration (BAC) level, and prior offenses, determines the penalties."
Sayers added that consecutive sentencing is required for certain repeat DUI offenders and imposes an 18-month driving privilege suspension for a DUI conviction graded as a felony of the second degree. He said that a third DUI offense is now a felony of the third-degree, punishable by up to seven years in prison in some circumstances, and that a fourth DUI offense is now a felony of the second degree, punishable by up to 10 years in prison under certain circumstances.
PA DUI Association Regional Program Administrator Maggie Nunley said, “The Pennsylvania DUI Association would like to remind everyone to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in a safe, and responsible manner. If you plan on drinking, please do not drive, arrange for a designated driver or an alternate form of transportation."
PennDOT recommends enjoying the holiday responsibly and assigning a designated sober driver for those who do choose to drink. In areas where they are available, public transit options, or the use of ride sharing apps like Uber are also suggested, safe alternatives to impaired driving.
For more information on the dangers and consequences of impaired driving, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety or www.padui.org.
For regional traffic updates, follow www.twitter.com/511PAStateCOLL.
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