Havertown, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police, Haverford Township Police Department, Pennsylvania DUI Association, and AAA will team up this weekend to kick off the St. Patrick’s Day Impaired Driving Enforcement efforts with a special campaign running March 5 through March 7.
An enforcement initiative, named "Operation Sober Shamrock," was announced during a media event today at the Haverford Township Police Department in Delaware County.
The coordinated enforcement activities will include roving DUI patrols. Local and state law enforcement agencies will conduct sustained enforcement efforts across Pennsylvania throughout the entire St. Patrick’s Day Impaired Driving Enforcement period, which runs from March 6 to March 17. These measures aim to deter drivers from operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The enforcement is part of PennDOT and its safety partners' ongoing efforts to reduce impaired-driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities statewide.
A multi-faceted approach is used to help keep Pennsylvania's roadways safe. This includes educating the public about the state's vehicle code, DUI laws, and the dangers and consequences of impaired driving.
The operation is funded in part by PennDOT’s statewide distribution of federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
“Our community has seen firsthand the devastation and loss caused by alcohol-impaired driving, along with the lasting pain it inflicts on families, friends, and entire communities,” said Haverford Township Police Department Chief John Viola. “Drinking and driving is not an option, but making sure someone sober will be behind the wheel is.”
Every year, alcohol-impaired driving casts a shadow over the festive spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, claiming the lives of community members. According to PennDOT data, during the 2025 St. Patrick's Day holiday period, which ran from Friday, March 7, through Monday, March 17, there were 67 crashes involving an impaired driver, resulting in two fatalities.
"Keep in mind that your journey affects others! Every driver and passenger on the road deserves to arrive at their destination safely. Don't allow alcohol or drugs to impair your judgment and jeopardize lives," emphasized Pennsylvania DUI Association Regional Program Administrator Jim French. "Impaired driving is not just irresponsible; it's entirely avoidable and can lead to tragic consequences. Make a smart decision: arrange for a safe ride."
Drivers should prioritize safety on St. Patrick's Day by planning if they intend to drink. It's crucial not to wait until after having drinks to determine how to get home. Alcohol impairs judgment, so make sure to arrange for a designated sober driver or use a rideshare service or taxi for a safe ride home. Additionally, walking while impaired can be hazardous, so consider designating a sober friend to help you get home safely.
If drivers recognize that they are unable to drive safely, they should hand their keys to a sober driver to ensure they get home safely. If a friend has been drinking and considers driving, others need to take action—take their keys away and help them find a safe, sober ride home. If you witness someone driving under the influence, please call 911.
To learn more about PennDOT's highway safety efforts, visit www.pa.gov/dotsafety.
PennDOT's media resources web page offers social media-sized graphics for numerous transportation-related campaigns, including safety topics such as aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving, and seat belts, for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders.
Drivers can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects. Subscribe to PennDOT news and find transportation results in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District6.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Krys Johnson, krysjohnso@pa.gov
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