State Police Crack Down On Drunken Drivers
As the dog days of summer wind down, Idaho State Police are gearing up to crack down on driving under the influence as part of a nationwide patrol campaign.
The initiative started last Friday, but ISP is working toward the upcoming holiday weekend when barbecues may involve alcohol and lead to more DUIs.
It even comes with a slogan: “Drive sober or get pulled over.”
“I do want to give you a verbal warning,” said ISP Corp. Neil Stevens, standing alongside a white SUV he pulled over for speeding in Idaho Falls on Monday morning.
“Just keep your speed down,” said Stevens. “Drive safe.”
Safety is the goal behind a national campaign that runs through Labor day.
Federal grant money through the Office of Highway Safety and the Idaho Transportation Department is allowing ISP to team up with local law enforcement to crack down on DUIs during these last weeks of summer by having extra troopers on the roads.
“The number one factor of deterrence is them just being able to see we’re out there,” said Stevens. “They see us and (think) ‘Oh we’re not gonna drive.'”
“We will get together for directive patrols and find areas or locations that are known to have DUI crashes or DUI-related problems and target those areas,” said Lt. Chris Weadick.
Weadick said his region 6 area has seen an average number of DUIs this summer.
Idaho Falls Police said there were 281 DUI arrests in 2010. So far in 2011, there have been 161. That’s on pace to come in at about 20 less for the year.
“We have been encouraged by voluntarily compliance we’re seeing,” said Weadick, citing more use of designated drivers. “Unfortunately, we’re still seeing a number of drivers making that mistake to drink and drive.”
State police said they have seen cases where the designated driver is actually just the least intoxicated person in the car. They’re asking for the designated driver to be 100 percent sober, or suggest calling a cab.
If convicted of a DUI in Idaho, drivers can lose their license or face jail time and fees up to $1,000.
