While some people celebrated the end of summer and Labor Day weekend with partying and drinking, the Harrison Township Police Department (HTPD) wrapped up the summer season by making sure those people got home safely and kept others on the road unharmed.
HTPD partnered with the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety (NJDHTS) to participate in its statewide Impaired Driving Crackdown campaign. The annual campaign, which ran from August 19 to Labor Day on September 7, is enforced to help raise awareness around the fatal risks of drinking and driving.
“Historically, enforcement is increased and publicized around all major party holidays, and Labor Day, being the unofficial end of summer, is no exception,” lieutenant Kurt Pflugfelder said in an email on behalf of HTPD and its partnership with NJDHTS.
“For example, you’ll see increased social media campaigns warning of the dangers of intoxicated driving around Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas through New Years Day. The increase in traffic, people driving long distances to visit family and friends, and increased alcohol consumption around holidays all contribute to higher crash rates and injuries,” he said.
NJDHTS provided grant opportunities to 106 police departments across the state to help departments schedule more shifts for officers during these busy holiday seasons that typically result in higher alcohol consumption. This allows there to be a higher law enforcement presence on the roadways.
As for this Labor Day weekend, Pflugfelder said the department had several officers scheduled for additional grant funded shifts who worked to “curb dangerous driving behaviors.”
Since this story was sent to press before the holiday weekend, it is undetermined whether or not there were any Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) arrests or charges. However, Pflugfelder said, “if there are no intoxicated drivers in Harrison Township this weekend, that’s a win for everyone.”
According to HTPD’s August 2026 Activity Recap, which was published on September 1, there were zero DWI arrests. In July, there were two DWI arrests. In June, there was only one DWI arrest.
“For us to have zero DWI arrests this August, I think we can see it as a win. People are getting the message that intoxicated driving just isn’t worth the risk,” Pflugfelder said.
The police department has also seen an overall decrease in DWI arrests over the last few years.
“Comparing the time period January 1 through September 1 our DWI arrests were 37 (2023), 24 (2024), 25 (2025), and 16 (2026). I think we can contribute that downward trend to the increased usage of rideshare programs, changing societal attitudes about alcohol abuse, and increased publicity regarding enforcement efforts,” Pflugfelder said. “Of those numbers, we averaged 4 DWI arrests each year just in August 2023-2025.”
Year-round – and even more so during the Impaired Driving Crackdown – HTPD, NJDHTS and other police departments across the state post regular content on social media that informs followers on the risks of drinking and driving. Many posts convey a message of making sure people order an Uber or Lyft home if they are ordering drinks or ensuring they have a designated sober driver.
According to NJDHTS’s latest reports, there were 186 people in New Jersey who lost their lives in car crashes that involved a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs in 2024. This accounted for 27% of all fatal crashes in the state that year.
When it comes to alcohol, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for drivers 21 years or older is 0.085. This BAC level can come from just one or two alcoholic beverages.
However, NJDHTS states that individuals can still be found guilty of driving under the influence, even if their BAC is lower than 0.08%. Additionally, someone who is not driving but permits someone with a BAC of 0.08% or higher to drive a motor vehicle they own or have custody of can also receive penalties.
The biggest message HTPD and the state wants its drivers to know? “Drive sober or get pulled over.”
HTPD partnered with New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety to participate in its statewide Impaired Driving Crackdown campaign, which ran from August 19 to Labor Day on September 7.
