WDEF News 12

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Georgia State Patrol predicts twenty three people will die in crashes this July 4th weekend...many of them alcohol related.

Just in time for the holiday, this year the state has tougher penalties for DUI offenders. Officers hope they make an impact on local roads. Expect to see a lot of these on the roadways this holiday weekend.Sheriff Steve Wilson, "We will have extra patrols out. Our DUI enforcement team will be out along with our patrol division looking for people who choose to drink and drive after we tell them not to."

Sheriff Steve Wilson says this July 4th is a big concern because it falls on a Friday.

Sheriff Wilson, "And we know that typically Friday and Saturday are the days of the week where we see more people drinking and driving."

But this year law enforcers in Georgia have a new weapon...stiffer penalties for people who drink and drive.

Trooper Eric Tallent, GSP, "The new law that went into effect July 1st will allow the law to treat the first and second DUI offenses as a misdemeanor. The third offense would be a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature."

And the fourth offense would be a felony worth one to five years behind bars.

Trooper Tallent, "Hopefully that will get some of the repeat offenders and the ones that we really have trouble with off the streets for a while."

According to Georgia State Patrol, one in five deadly crashes on the state's highways are alcohol related.

Officers hope this tough new stance on DUIs will drive home a message worth repeating.

Sheriff Wilson, "We encourage them not to drink and drive to have a designated driver. If they're going to be out partying during the Holidays." Trooper Tallent, "Stay at home if you're enjoying alcoholic beverages and do not get behind the wheel of a car."

The new law also extends the amount of time a DUI offense will count when issuing a penalty from five to ten years.

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