Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Blog
Massachusetts closed out the annual Labor Day impaired-driving enforcement wave on September 1 as part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. At Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, we recognize the effectiveness of high-visibility patrols, sobriety checkpoints, and public education efforts in preventing tragedies. When a crash does happen, they can also shape the evidence, the criminal charges, and the path to civil recovery. Below, we explain what the campaign is, why it runs in late August through Labor Day, how it connects to Massachusetts crash trends, and what steps victims should take after an impaired-driving collision.
What the enforcement wave is and when it ran in 2025
Each summer, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration coordinates a nationwide crackdown on impaired driving around Labor Day. In 2025, the enforcement period ran from August 15 to September 1, supported by paid and earned media that encouraged drivers to plan a sober ride. You likely saw messages like “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over” across television, radio, digital platforms, and highway signs.
Massachusetts agencies participate fully in this national push. In early August, MassDOT reminded drivers that they would see increased police presence on the roads from August 15 to September 1, emphasizing zero tolerance for impaired driving. The agency pairs its outreach with community partners to reinforce a simple lifesaving point: drunk driving is illegal and deadly.
Why is late August and Labor Day seen as a time of heightened enforcement?
Labor Day weekends historically see an uptick in alcohol-involved crashes nationwide. The campaign is timed to counter that risk by increasing visibility, patrol saturation, checkpoints, and media reminders during the final weeks of summer. The logic is straightforward. When drivers know enforcement is stepped up, fewer choose to drive impaired. When someone offends despite the warnings, officers are positioned to intercept them sooner.
Massachusetts context, what the data suggests
Massachusetts has consistently treated impaired driving as a top safety priority, and with good reason. Recent public health data show that a significant share of fatal crashes in the Commonwealth involve an impaired driver. Among drivers hospitalized after crashes, a substantial portion are identified as under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and those who used alcohol or drugs are more likely to suffer traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries.
Nationwide, alcohol-impaired driving remains a leading cause of roadway deaths. Recent federal summaries reflect more than ten thousand alcohol-related fatalities annually, representing roughly one-third of all traffic deaths. These numbers underscore why campaigns like the Labor Day enforcement wave remain necessary.
Massachusetts complements the annual campaign with ongoing strategies, including a Strategic Highway Safety Plan and statewide crash-data tools that help target enforcement and engineering where it is most needed. The state also invests federal safety funds in evidence-based projects to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes.
What “zero tolerance” means in practice
During the Labor Day wave, “zero tolerance” means police are on heightened alert for signs of impairment, and drivers face swift and sure consequences for breaking the law. Patrols often coordinate across municipalities and state police agencies, and these agencies may announce sobriety checkpoints in advance as a deterrent. Enforcement does not end when the campaign window closes. Officers continue to conduct patrols and checkpoints throughout September and beyond.
From a victim’s perspective, this matters. When an impaired driver causes a crash, the heightened enforcement can lead to faster traffic-stop contacts, better documentation of impairment, and more robust evidence, including body-worn camera footage, field sobriety testing records, breath or blood tests, and witness statements. Those records can support both the criminal case and your civil claim for damages.
How the campaign intersects with drug-impaired driving
Although “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is often associated with alcohol, enforcement and messaging increasingly cover drug impairment as well. Officers are trained to recognize signs of cannabis and polydrug impairment, and Massachusetts agencies follow evolving national standards on impaired-driving enforcement. The takeaway is straightforward. Impairment is impairment, whether from alcohol alone or combined with drugs, and it is illegal to drive under the influence.
Safety technology and long-term prevention
Beyond enforcement waves, prevention is evolving. Federal rulemaking is exploring advanced impaired-driving prevention technology for future vehicles, and safety advocates continue to push for system-level approaches that make impaired driving less likely and less deadly. While these initiatives are longer-term, they reflect the same goal as the Labor Day campaign: fewer impaired drivers on the road and fewer families devastated by preventable crashes.
If an impaired driver hurt you or a loved one during or after the Labor Day period
Even with the campaign’s visibility, crashes still happen. If you were injured or an impaired driver killed a family member, a few immediate steps can protect your health and your legal rights.
1) Get medical care and follow the treatment plan
Your health comes first. Many collision injuries, including head and spinal trauma, worsen if untreated. Prompt evaluation also creates a clear medical record linking your injuries to the crash, which is crucial in a claim. Evidence shows that alcohol- or drug-involved crash victims are more likely to sustain severe injuries, so do not downplay symptoms.
2) Preserve evidence right away
If possible, save photos of the scene, vehicle damage, skid marks, deployed airbags, and your injuries. Keep names and contact information for witnesses and first responders. Save your clothing, especially if it shows signs of blood or glass, and keep any damaged personal items. These tangible details can make a significant difference in proving liability and damages.
3) Obtain the police report and testing records
During heightened enforcement, reports may include detailed observations, dash or body camera references, field sobriety notes, preliminary breath test results, and citations or arrests. Our team can request complete records, including any laboratory analysis of blood alcohol concentration or toxicology, which strengthens a civil case against the impaired driver.
4) Identify all potential sources of recovery
Massachusetts law allows victims to pursue claims against the impaired driver’s auto insurer and, in some circumstances, to investigate additional responsible parties. We may evaluate bar or restaurant overservice under dram shop principles, negligent entrustment, unsafe roadway conditions, or vehicle defects. Identifying every accountable party is essential to securing full compensation for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and wrongful death damages where applicable.
5) Do not speak to insurers before you are ready
Adjusters may call quickly, even while you are still receiving care. Be cautious about recorded statements and quick settlement offers. Early offers rarely account for long-term medical needs, future wage loss, or the full impact of permanent injuries.
Common questions we hear after a drunk-driving crash
How does a criminal DUI case relate to my civil claim?
The criminal case is separate from your civil claim. A conviction for operating under the influence can strengthen your civil case. However, even if the driver is acquitted, you can still prove civil liability by a preponderance of the evidence. The civil standard is lower than beyond a reasonable doubt, and the evidence gathered during enforcement waves, including officer testimony and test results, remains valuable.
What if the impaired driver was under the legal limit?
You may still have a case. Alcohol at any level can impair reaction time and judgment, and drug impairment does not require a high blood alcohol concentration. Officers trained to detect impairment can document signs that support liability, and Massachusetts civil law focuses on negligence and causation.
What if the other driver fled or had no insurance?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in your own policy may provide a path to compensation. Hit-and-run claims also rely heavily on the preservation of evidence, including camera footage and witness statements, which are more likely to be available when enforcement is active and agencies are on alert.
How the Labor Day campaign helps victims in real cases
High-visibility enforcement not only prevents crashes. It also produces better evidence in the event of a crash. During the Labor Day wave, officers are out in force, sobriety checkpoints are more common, and public messaging is frequent. The result is more thorough incident documentation and more substantial evidence of impairment. In practical terms, this can mean clearer liability, fewer disputes over causation, and a more accurate accounting of damages in negotiations or at trial.
MassDOT’s August reminders about the enforcement window, coupled with the national media push, help set public expectations. Drivers who choose to drink or use drugs and still get behind the wheel cannot credibly claim ignorance. That context can matter for both the criminal charges filed and the civil posture of a case.
What Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers does for Massachusetts drunk-driving victims
We help crash victims and families move from chaos to clarity. Our role begins with the immediate preservation of evidence and coordination with law enforcement to secure reports, testing records, and video footage. We gather medical documentation, retain the services of the right experts, and identify all at-fault parties, including any bar, restaurant, or social host that contributed to the harm. We manage the insurance process and, when necessary, file suit to pursue full and fair compensation. Throughout, we communicate in plain English so you understand your options at every step.
If your crash occurred during the August 15 to September 1 enforcement period, please let us know. We will look for checkpoint notices, patrol activity in the area, and any additional footage or records created as a result of the campaign. That material can be critical in establishing impairment and securing accountability.
Final takeaways as the 2025 wave wraps up
- The 2025 Labor Day impaired-driving enforcement campaign in Massachusetts and nationwide ran from August 29 to September 1, with stepped-up patrols, checkpoints, and zero-tolerance messaging.
- Impaired driving remains a leading cause of death on our roads, both in Massachusetts and across the country, which is why these campaigns continue each year.
- If an impaired driver hurt you, the enforcement wave may have generated additional evidence that can strengthen your civil case. Act quickly to protect your rights and obtain experienced legal help.
Free case review
If an impaired driver injured you or a loved one, call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers at (617) 777-7777 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We are ready to investigate, preserve critical evidence, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.