C.O. police set holiday-weekend DUII crackdown

Drunk driving is one of America’s most often committed and deadliest crimes.

All 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have established a threshold making it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher. Yet 10,228 people died in 2010 in traffic crashes in which at least one vehicle driver or motorcycle rider had a BAC of .08 or higher.

In an effort to get impaired drivers off the road, raise public awareness about the dangers of impaired driving, and most importantly, to save more lives on our roadways, Central Oregon law enforcement agencies will be joining the state in a five-day High Visibility Enforcement campaign dedicated to DUII enforcement.

Local agencies participating in the increased traffic enforcement include the Bend Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Prineville Police Department, and Redmond Police Department.

These agencies will provide regular and overtime enforcement to reduce the number of drugs/alcohol related traffic incidents in our community.

We strongly encourage all citizens to drink responsibly and plan ahead for a safe way to get home.

Alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes is about four times higher at night than during the day.

Please designate a sober driver, take a taxi, call a friend or family member, or use public transportation and have a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend!

For more information, visit the High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Headquarters at www.nhtsa.gov/StopImpairedDriving. This HVE enforcement is funded by overtime funds through the Oregon Department of Transportation. For additional information, please contact Interim Lieutenant Nick Parker at the Bend Police Department at (541)322-2978.