Representatives from the Sierra Vista Police Department (SVPD) recently participated in the Arizona Governors Office of Highway Safety holiday DUI enforcement kickoff event in Tucson, an event designed to highlight the DUI holiday task force deployments in Arizona. 

Members of the SVPD joined other public safety personnel from throughout the state, city and county staff members, prosecutors, liquor distributors, restaurant association representatives and ride service providers for the kickoff event. 

Among the event's displays was the SVPD's DUI task force van, which was recognized in 2014 by the Governors Office of Highway Safety with an award. 

"We urge everyone to remember that the safest driver is always a sober driver," SVPD Task Force coordinator Cpl. Tim Wachtel said in a press release. "Always plan for a safe ride home before drinking alcohol."

According to Wachtel, the time between Thanksgiving and New Years Day is an especially dangerous time on the road due to the increase in impaired drivers. There were 4,923 alcohol-related collisions in the state in 2016 with 307 lives lost, according to crash statistics from the Arizona Department of Transportation.