BOONEVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) --Law enforcement in Mississippi say they arrest about 30,000 drunk drivers every year.
This year's holiday campaign, "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over," is in full swing.
Even with warnings, campaigns and news stories like this one; officers said drunk drivers continue to risk their lives and the lives of fellow drivers.
"If you are impaired and driving drunk on our highways you will go to jail," said Mississippi Law Enforcement Liaison Tammy Moore.
This is the first year in over 50 years that Mississippi is no longer in the top 10 as it relates to fatalities on its roads.
Leaders attribute campaigns like this one for the decrease in deaths.
"Deterrence is a big thing. They [drunk drivers] know we are out there. It's not about writing tickets. It's about allowing people to go home while they celebrate the holiday season," Moore said.
It's the first time Ripley Police will participate in the campaign.
Chief Scott White said his officers will be out looking for impaired drivers and drivers not wearing seat belts.
"There are still a lot of people who don't like wearing their seat belts. We don't want to have anybody on the roads drinking and endangering everybody's lives," said White.
Officers will also be looking for drug impaired drivers.
"We've actually seen a pretty good increase lately in drug drivers. A lot of impaired drivers now, are on medications or illegal drugs. A lot more of those are on the roads than what there use to be," said Sherman Police Chief Joe Spellings.
In December, about 30 percent of the nation's fatalities in traffic accidents involve alcohol-impaired drivers.
