LITTLE ROCK - While this time of year often includes family, friends, and festivities, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is urging all Arkansans to enjoy the holiday season safely and responsibly. Every day in the United States, 28 people die from drunk driving. In 2019, over 10,000 people were killed in drunk driving accidents.  

"Arkansas is a zero tolerance state for drinking and driving and when you get behind the wheel impaired you are putting other families at risk," said Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. "Arkansans should enjoy the holiday safely and responsibly and know that they must drive sober or face getting pulled over."

For those choosing to celebrate the New Year, Arkansas State Police recommends:

• Have a designated sober driver if you plan to consume alcohol.
• If you don't have a designated driver and you've been drinking, call a taxi, Uber, Lyft or someone who is sober to drive you home.
• If you know someone who is about to drive, operate a motorcycle, or any other vehicle while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.
• Buckle up, always. Your seat belt is your best defense against a drunk driver.
• Always call 9-1-1 if you see a drunk driver on the road.

Arkansans convicted of driving while intoxicated face license suspension or revocation, fines, and even jail time.

For more information on other safety-related issues, contact the Arkansas Attorney General's office at (800) 482-8982.

About Attorney General Leslie Rutledge

Leslie Carol Rutledge is the 56th Attorney General of Arkansas. Elected on November 4, 2014, and sworn in on January 13, 2015, she is the first woman and first Republican in Arkansas history to be elected as Attorney General. She was resoundingly re-elected on November 6, 2018. Since taking office, she has significantly increased the number of arrests and convictions against online predators who exploit children and con artists who steal taxpayer money through Social Security Disability and Medicaid fraud. Further, she has held Rutledge Roundtable meetings and Mobile Office hours in every county of the State each year, and launched a Military and Veterans Initiative. She has led efforts to roll back government regulations that hurt job creators, fight the opioid epidemic, teach internet safety, combat domestic violence and make the office the top law firm for Arkansans. Rutledge serves on committees for Consumer Protection, Criminal Law and Veterans Affairs for the National Association of Attorneys General. She also served as the former Chairwoman of the Republican Attorneys General Association.

A native of Batesville, she is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Rutledge clerked for the Arkansas Court of Appeals, was Deputy Counsel for former Governor Mike Huckabee, served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Lonoke County and was an Attorney at the Department of Human Services before serving as Counsel at the Republican National Committee. Rutledge and her husband, Boyce, have one daughter. The family has a home in Pulaski County and a farm in Crittenden County.