OSP ramping up saturation patrols in Central Oregon for President’s Day weekend, WinterFest visitors
Focus of 'high-visibility' patrols is on 'Fatal 5' violations that lead to bad crashes
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon State Police said Thursday it's ramping up patrols in Central Oregon Friday through Sunday. A high-visibility saturation patrol is planned for the President’s Day long weekend and coincides with the annual Oregon WinterFest, which is expected to increase traffic and bring a large number of visitors to the area.
Troopers will be focused on impaired driving prevention, detection, and enforcement, along with an emphasis on "Fatal 5" violations, which are statistically shown to contribute to serious injury and fatal crashes.
"Fatal 5" violations include:
- Speed
- Occupant Safety
- Lane Usage
- Impaired Driving
- Distracted Driving
“Safety is always our primary goal. We want to intercept impaired drivers before they can hurt themselves or someone else,” said Capt. Kyle Kennedy. “We know that speed, distracted, impaired, and other unsafe driving behaviors are major contributors to serious injury and fatal crashes. We proactively enforce dangerous driving behaviors to help minimize the impacts to our communities.”
OSP and City of Bend patrols will be focusing coverage along Hwy. 97, Hwy. 20W and within the city of Bend.
# # #
About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that is charged with protecting the people, wildlife, and natural resources in Oregon. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon.
