OZT offering handcuffs not handshakes to drunk drivers

The Operation Zero Tolerance (OZT) Labor Day 2007 Campaign is in full swing, with state and local law enforcement officials concentrating their efforts on reducing the number of traffic-related injuries caused by people using alcohol and driving.

"The OZT message is simple," said Bob Dallas, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), which coordinates the safety initiative. "You drive impaired in Georgia, you will go to jail. Informed drivers get the handshakes; impaired drivers get the handcuffs. That's 'Zero Tolerance.'

"Too many people don't understand that alcohol, drugs, and driving just don't mix," the GOHS director continued. "Impaired driving is no accident, that's why we call them crashes, not accidents."

In other comments, Dallas said, "If you see a drunk driver, call 911 or *GSP. Also, the best protection against an encounter with a drunk driver is still a buckled seat belt. Moreover, if you plan to drink, don't drive. If you plan to party, choose a designated driver before the celebration begins."

For more information about Operation Zero Tolerance, contact the Lincolnton Police Department at 706- 359-4121 or the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office at 706-359-7320.