If you are driving in Warner Robins Friday night, you'll see a lot more police patrolling the streets. The Warner Robins Police Department is cracking down on people driving under the influence. Officers set up several checkpoints throughout the city to keep impaired drivers off the road. The Governor's Office of Highway Safety reports about 1,400 people died on Georgia roads in 2015. That number jumped by 100 just a year later.
Watson Boulevard, like many other Warner Robins streets, sees plenty of drivers. Driver Anthony Holmes says some of them drive under the influence.
"Most people think they have control and we don't. I mean, we have to protect each other on these streets," said Holmes.
The Warner Robins Police Department kicked off what it calls "Operation Safe Streets." Jennifer Parson with the police department says it's an initiative to to make the streets safer this holiday season.
"We don't want them to get behind the wheel and for us to catch them doing it. We want them to not do it at all," said Parson.
Parson says multiple law enforcement agencies are at checkpoints helping out. That includes Perry police, Byron police, Georgia State Patrol, Monroe County deputies, and the Crisp County deputies just to name a few.
"One wrong mistake or one reaction that you have could affect a lot of people," said Parson.
Officers and deputies are checking for a valid license, proof of insurance, and registration. Otherwise, you could suffer the consequences.
"During the holidays, we need to keep each other safe so we can go home to our families the same way we left," said Holmes.
Operation Safe Streets is connected to a campaign by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. It says "Drive sober or get pulled over." Parson says those checkpoints will stay out throughout the night until the early morning.