Bend, OSP report jump in New Year’s DUII arrests

Bend police said they made nine DUII arrests over New Year’s Eve and early New Year’s Day, a big jump from the two arrests last year. Oregon State Police also reported an increase in that number

Redmond police reported two DUII arrests overnight, while Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies didn’t make any arrests. But overall, during their Dec. 12-Jan. 1 traffic safety campaign., sheriff’s deputies report making 13 arrests.

Bend police Sgt. Elizabeth Lawrence said Thursday a third of the New Year’s arrests happened in or near the downtown area.

“You’d think people would be more inclined to call cabs or get a designated driver,” Lawrence said, “so it surprises me that we’ve seen an increase of DUIIs, knowing that we’ve had that education out there, and we tell people what’s going to occur — and people still drink and get behind the week of a vehicle.”

Lawrence said two of the DUII arrests were related to drugs, not alcohol.

Oregon State Police troopers reported Friday an uptick in the number of DUII arrests made over the New Year’s Eve/Day period, 6 p.m. Wednesday to 11:59 p.m. Thursday.

During the holiday period, troopers arrested 37 drivers for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, up from last year, when troopers arrested 29 impaired drivers.

Troopers responded to 35 crashes during the period this year, two of which involved one or more fatality.

Police agencies statewide have been doing high-visibility DUII enforcement over the holidays to catch more impaired drivers and try to reduce the number of crashes.