Newton County Sheriff Issues Holiday Warning: ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Begins Dec. 12

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety are reminding drivers that impaired driving will not be tolerated as the holiday season approaches. Sheriff Ezell Brown issued the department’s final warning ahead of Christmas and New Year’s: never drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any combination of substances.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign runs from December 12, 2025, through January 1, 2026. During this period, agencies across Georgia will increase DUI patrols with a focus on stopping crashes and saving lives.

Deputies, troopers, and local officers statewide will enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy. Anyone found driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher will be arrested on the spot. No warnings and no chances to call for a ride. Impaired drivers will be taken directly to jail.

“Nothing weighs heavier on us than notifying a family that a loved one isn’t coming home, especially during the holidays, because someone chose to drive impaired,” Sheriff Brown said. “That’s why we work tirelessly to remove impaired drivers from our roads. Every arrest we make could mean a life saved.”

Federal data underscores why officials are urging caution. NHTSA reports more than 4,900 people nationwide were killed in alcohol-related crashes during the month of December between 2019 and 2023. In December 2023 alone, two-thirds of drunk-driving deaths involved a driver with a BAC of 0.15 or higher.

A Governor’s Office of Highway Safety fact sheet shows:
• Over 80% of people killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2023 were riding in the vehicle struck by the impaired driver.
• Between midnight and 3 a.m. in December 2023, 45% of drivers involved in fatal crashes were drunk.
• Nearly 70% of drunk-driving deaths in Georgia from December 2019 to 2023 involved a driver with a BAC close to twice the legal limit.

GOHS Director Allen Poole urged drivers to plan ahead.

“If alcohol is part of the plan, then the plan must include arranging a ride with a sober driver,” Poole said. “Driving after drinking is never worth the risk. For those who refuse to put their safety and the safety of others first, please know we have a jail cell ready and waiting.”

Officials also shared tips to prevent impaired driving:
• Let friends and family know they can call you anytime for a safe ride.
• Provide nonalcoholic drinks for designated drivers.
• Remember designated drivers shouldn’t drink at all.
• Take the keys from impaired guests and don’t let them drive.
• Encourage guests to stay overnight if needed.

Georgia law enforcement is asking everyone to do their part this holiday season. A simple decision to plan ahead can prevent a tragedy.