A Holy Week warning: Don’t get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking

Puerto Rico Police Commissioner Joseph González

By The Star Staff

Puerto Rico Police Commissioner Joseph González advised on Monday about the Holy Week security plan and issued a call to the public.

“This message is for drivers. The roads are not racetracks or bars on wheels,” the commissioner said at a press conference. “If you’re going to drink, turn off the key. If you’re going to drive, do it responsibly.”

González said the Police Bureau’s Holy Week work plan is already activated and includes ground, sea, and air surveillance. The 13 police regions are working in coordination with specialized units such as FURA, Highway Patrol, Drug Enforcement, Criminal Investigations, and municipal police. The plan seeks to intervene with drivers who violate traffic laws, including speeding, driving while using cell phones, driving without seatbelts, or driving with children without car seats.

The police will also be alert to situations that affect safety and coexistence in public spaces, González said.

González invited the public to work with authorities and assume their role in preventing tragedies this week. He also provided a weekly summary.

“As of today, we have 128 murders so far this year,” González. “At this same date in 2024, there were 168, a reduction of 38 murders.”

Regarding fatal accidents, the commissioner reported that 73 have been recorded, representing a reduction of three compared to the 76 reported at the same date in 2024.