More deputies looking for impaired drivers in Storey County

In an effort to reduce impaired drivers during the Labor Day holiday, the Storey County Sheriff's Department is increasing the number of deputies that will be on patrol.

Sgt. Jason Dias said the increase of officers is in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's campaign, "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest."

Officers will work overtime through Sept. 3.

In 2006, 13,740 fatalities occurred in crashes involving at least one driver who had a .08 percent or above blood-alcohol content, according to national statistics.

The campaign is funded by a grant through the Nevada Department of Public Safety/Office of Traffic Safety.

In addition to Storey deputies, Carson City and the Nevada Highway Patrol will also have extra officers on patrol looking for drugged and drunken drivers, as part of the national effort to improve traffic safety.

Dias said, thus far in 2007, Storey County has made 116 drunken or drugged driving arrests.