Posted Tuesday, December 7, 2010 --- 1:24 p.m.

Press release from the Stoughton Police Department:

Although deaths and injuries from traffic crashes devastate individuals, families and entire communities throughout the year, they seem to be even more tragic during the holiday season.

To prevent crashes that destroy so many lives, The Stoughton Police Department will mobilize along with other law enforcement agencies throughout the state for the “Booze and Belts” traffic safety campaign from Dec. 10 to 18.

Although this may be the time of year for the “holiday spirit” of forgiveness, we will be cracking down stringently on impaired drivers and unbelted motorists. We will not accept excuses or make exceptions for disregarding traffic safety laws.

Through our traffic safety education and enforcement efforts, we hope that people will voluntarily decide to buckle up and drive sober. But if they don’t, our intensified traffic patrols will increase the risk of getting caught. Our ultimate goal is to one day attain zero preventable traffic deaths in Wisconsin. And there’s no better time of year to work toward that goal than right now.