NMDOT News:

SANTA FE – Buckle up, watch your speed and don’t drink and drive. The State of New Mexico’s Holiday Superblitz gets underway today.

During this time, law enforcement agencies from across the state, including local, state and tribal, will be out in force conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols, seatbelt enforcement, speeding enforcement and looking for other traffic safety violations. 

This crackdown coincides with the holidays, since drunk driving crashes increase significantly during this time of the year. 

“Let’s make this holiday season a time where law enforcement does not have to notify a family that a loved one has been injured or killed in a crash caused by drunk driving,” Gov. Susana Martinez said.

So far, 105 people have lost their lives to alcohol-related crashes in New Mexico this year. That’s 42 percent of all of the fatal crashes in the state during 2013.

“This is a reminder to not only take care of yourself and your family out on the road, but to look out for others as well,” NMDOT Cabinet Secretary Tom Church said.

The NMDOT’s Traffic Safety Division provides state and federal funds to support this enforcement effort. The Holiday Superblitz runs through Jan. 5.