Area law enforcement agencies will be mobilizing to encourage seatbelt use and discourage drunk driving.

The event is part of the Booze and Belts campaign, which will run statewide from December 7 through the 16th. During the campaign law enforcement agencies are cracking down on impaired drivers and unbuckled motorists.

Oneida County Sheriff Lt. Lloyd Gauthier says, “Fatal and serious injury traffic crashes can turn a joyous holiday season into a time of tragedy.” He added, “To prevent these needless tragedies, our officers will be out in force during the Booze and Belts mobilization.”

Last year in Wisconsin, there were approximately 35,000 convictions for drunken driving and nearly 85,000 convictions for failure to fasten safety belts.

Regarding seat belts, Lt.Gauthiersays,  “We take safety belt enforcement seriously. Too many drivers and passengers are seriously injured or killed while being ejected from their vehicles or tossed around violently inside them during a crash.”

The Booze and Belts mobilization is part of a statewide effort to reduce the number of preventable traffic deaths to Zero In Wisconsin. The campaign is encouraging drivers to follow these laws, otherwise their increased coverage will be there to enforce them.