HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania State Police has released the results of its 2024 Independence Day Weekend Enforcement campaign, which saw an uptick in DUI arrests, overall citations and crashes, including fatal ones.
From Wednesday, July 3, through Sunday, July 7, PSP investigated 774 crashes across the state that resulted in 11 deaths and 244 injuries. In comparison, over the same time span in 2023, PSP investigated a total of 668 crashes in which there were 194 injuries and just three deaths.
Of the 774 holiday weekend crashes PSP investigated this year, 64 of them were reportedly caused by DUIs, four of which were fatal. In 2023, 59 of 668 investigated crashes were caused by DUI, none of which were fatal.
Over the course of the five-day campaign this year, PSP reported 556 arrests for drivers driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and issued another 28,429 citations, including 7,975 for speeding, 876 for not wearing a seatbelt, 225 for not having children secured appropriately in a car seat and 19,353 other citations. During the campaign in 2023, there were 505 DUI arrests, 7,929 speeding citations, 210 child seat citations, 845 seat belt citations and 14,754 other citations.
In the Centre County area, State Police at Rockview investigated 37 crashes resulting in 18 injuries during the 2024 campaign period; three of the crashes state police reported were DUI-related. Additionally, the Rockview station reported 29 DUI arrests, 1,337 speeding citations, six child seat citations, 79 seatbelt citations and 1,482 other citations.
The data provided by PSP only covers incidents investigated by state police and does not include incidents investigated by other responding law enforcement agencies.
The Pennsylvania departments of Transportation, Conservation and Natural Resources, Drug and Alcohol Programs and Health, and the PSP, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner highlighted safety and responsible celebration ahead of the Fourth of July weekend.
“I’m pleased to join my colleagues to encourage Pennsylvanians to keep safety at the forefront this holiday weekend and all summer long,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said in a press release ahead of the 2024 Independence Day holiday. “Whether your plans this summer include hiking, biking, boating or a backyard barbeque, PennDOT urges motorists to always plan ahead and designate a sober driver or arrange for alternate transportation — never drive impaired.”
Both Pennsylvania State Police and local agencies conducted checkpoints over the holiday weekend as part of the Fourth of July Impaired Driving Campaign, an effort funded through PennDOT’s annual distribution of $6 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for impaired driving enforcement.
“State troopers and municipal law enforcement officers remain vigilant for impaired driving behaviors and take zero-tolerance approach toward motorists found under the influence of alcohol and controlled substances,” PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris noted in the press release. “Celebrate the holiday safely by staying sober on the roads.”
