The Wareham Police Department will join 128 other statewide law enforcement agencies as part of a national "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" crackdown on impaired drivers, according to a police press release.

The initiative will take place from August 15 to September 3.

On average, there is one alcohol impaired driving-related fatality every 51 minutes across America.  The number of drivers operating under the influence increases during holiday weekends, especially during summer holidays, according to the press release.

“All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life," said Wareham Police Lieutenant Kevin Walsh.

"Since twice as many alcohol-impaired crashes occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night, we will be especially vigilant during these high-risk times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” he said.

Officers will be aggressively looking for all impaired drivers during the crackdown, and will arrest anyone they find driving while impaired, regardless of age, vehicle type, or time of day, according to the press release.

“Our message is simple and unwavering. If we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions,” Walsh said.

Impaired driving is one of America’s most often committed and deadliest crimes. In 2010, 115 people died in impaired driving-related crashes in the Commonwealth.  Moreover, there were an additional 2,750 impaired driving-related personal injury and property damage crashes, and almost 14,635 impaired driving arrests.

“Even if you beat the odds and manage to walk away from an impaired driving crash alive, the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can still destroy your life,” Walsh said.

Violators often face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks, according to the press release. Their insurance rates go up. Other financial penalties include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. All together, a first offense can easily cost well over $5000, according to the press release.

The mobilization is funded by a federal grant administered through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division.