The Nevada Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies in Northern Nevada, including Churchill County, are stepping up their patrols for motorists driving under the influence.
During this year’s Labor Day weekend, law enforcement will be out in full force in Northern Nevada, patrolling the roads for impaired drivers, said Trooper David Gibson, NHP spokesman.
In a media release, Gibson said drunk drivers will be cited and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. With the state’s Zero Fatalities goal in mind, he said drivers should plan ahead and designate a sober driver if their weekend plans involve alcohol.
Although law enforcement is stepping up its patrols, Gibson said no DUI checkpoints are planned in western Nevada.
So far this year 35 deaths on Nevada’s roads were alcohol-related, according to preliminary data from the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety. Nationally, someone dies every 51 minutes from an alcohol-related crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
To curb impaired driving and alcohol-related deaths on Nevada roads this Labor Day weekend, Gibson said traffic safety officials share these tips for drivers and passengers:
If you drink, don’t drive. Designate a sober driver to get you home safely.
Plan a safe way home before going out.
If you’re already impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, use public transportation or call a designated driver service to get home safely.
If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local police.
If you know people who are about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
Nevada Joining Forces is a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement program that promotes statewide enforcement of DUI, seat belt use, distracted driving, speed and pedestrian safety. Gibson said last year’s Joining Forces enforcement over the Labor Day holiday resulted in 4,227 stops with 128 DUI arrests.
Joining Forces is funded by grants through the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety. Nevada’s Zero Fatalities program is a statewide effort addressing the top behaviors that are killing people on our roads.