Police will be out in force during New Year's holiday
By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

Capt. Brooks Allison of the Gaffney Police Department doesn't like being placed in a position to beg.

But he's willing to do it.

"We're begging people not to drink and drive," he said.

If begging isn't good enough, though, police are putting motorists on notice that law enforcement will be out in full force throughout the New Year's holiday, conducting safety checkpoints and doing roving patrols throughout Cherokee County.

While all holidays pose some problems on roadways, police say the New Year's holiday can be especially troublesome for drunk driving.

"People who don't normally drink often drink a little on New Year's," Allison said.

Regardless of legal limits, police say, special occasion users of alcohol can show signs of impairment with much less alcohol because of lower tolerance.

Of additional concern this year is the fact that a New Year's Day falling on a Tuesday makes for a very long weekend for travel and holiday parties.

"Not to mention, we've (also) got some adverse weather moving in with rain," said Lance Cpl. Ron Johnson of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Bad weather could add to roadway difficulties.

So don't take chances, Allison said. "It's too easy to find a ride and a whole lot less expensive," he said.

Aside from the possible loss of life, a drunk driving arrest can end up costing thousands of dollars in fines, fees and increased insurance rates, the loss of driving privileges and in some cases even a job.

"There's no end to what can happen because you had a few too many," Allison said.

Police won't advertise the times or locations of safety checkpoints but Allison said they will be conducted throughout the week and in multiple locations. The Gaffney Police Department, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, the Blacksburg Police Department and the South Carolina Highway Patrol all will be involved.

Johnson said plans also call for Cherokee County law enforcement personnel to team up with Troop 3 of the Highway Patrol for multijurisdiction checkpoints in Spartanburg County as well.

While drunk driving is the primary concern, police will also be looking for safety belt use, proper use of child safety seats, stolen vehicles, proper insurance, wanted felons, traffic violations and drugs and drug paraphernalia offenses.

It won't take much to make Allison happy, but it will take cooperation from the driving public.

"It would make me happy if we don't have any accidents involving drunk drivers," Allison said. "It would make me happy if we have no injuries from driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, that everyone makes it into the New Year safe."

During the Christmas holiday period, there were seven fatalities on South Carolina roadways, Johnson said. One fatality was a pedestrian while the other six were in vehicles. None of the six people killed in car crashes were wearing seatbelts.