The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that its office, along with the Columbus Police Department, says that its officers issued 59 citations and made 21 arrests over a 24-day enforcement period. Sheriff Matt Myers says this was an effort to make area roads safer for families traveling over the holiday season. Federal highway safety funds administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute supported overtime patrols for more than 230 law-enforcement agencies across the state.

“Why do we enforce traffic laws? There is only one reason – to save lives,” said Sheriff Myers and Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde. “Anyone who responds to a severe crash, or notifies next of kin, simply wants you and your family to buckle up and drive sober this holiday season.”

In every state, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. In Indiana, drivers under 21 with a BAC of .02 or higher are subject to fines and a license suspension for up to one year.

For more information about impaired driving visit http://on.IN.gov/drivesober and for more information about seat belts visit http://on.IN.gov/buckleup.