C.O. police begin holiday-season DUII crackdown

Central Oregon law enforcement agencies are joining their counterparts across the state in a three-week High Visibility Enforcement campaign dedicated to DUII enforcement, beginning Friday and extending through Jan. 2.

Participating local agencies, which include the Bend Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Prineville Police Department, and Redmond Police Department, will provide regular and overtime DUII enforcement to reduce the number of drugs/alcohol related traffic incidents this holiday season.

Holidays are about spending time with family and friends, which usually includes parties. While planning your holiday festivities, police said, don’t forget to consider your party safety plans.

Some helpful tips include designating a driver, monitoring alcohol consumption, having cab contact information ready, offering plenty of non-alcoholic drinks, and offering food if you are serving alcohol.

Also, take into account that there is an increase of traffic resulting from attendance at various holiday functions.

If possible, drivers should try to stay off the road between the hours of midnight and 3:00 a.m., when impaired driving accidents are most likely to occur, according to research from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

If the weather is bad, consider revising your plans so you won’t have to travel on icy or snowy roads. With a little foresight and by taking precautions, you can enjoy your holiday season and stay safe as well.

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 Sergeant Kurt Koester at the Bend Police Department at 541-322-2960.