NDHP to be out in force for this weekend

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Expect more troopers on the roads this holiday weekend as the North Dakota Highway Patrol is stepping up enforcement, officials said.

The Southeast Region of the North Dakota Highway Patrol plans to participate in a national crackdown toward impaired driving through Monday, which is Labor Day. The patrol, along with other agencies, will increase enforcement as part of the national Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest campaign.

Sgt. Mitchell Rumple of the Southeast Region said traffic increases over weekends like Labor Day, so the patrol puts all available personnel on the roads. In the Jamestown area, that’s about 16 troopers. On a normal weekend, there are 10 to 16 troopers on the road, he said.

“The holiday season brings out a lot more travelers,” he said.

The patrol looks to keep roads safe by detecting and removing impaired drivers as well as traffic violations and not using safety restraints. The goal is to reduce accidents and fatalities on the road.

Alcohol was a contributing factor in 44 percent of all fatal crashes in North Dakota so far this year, the patrol said.

Three fatal crashes have been reported so far in the Jamestown area, resulting in five fatalities, Rumple said. Alcohol was a contributing factor in one of the crashes.

As of Aug. 30, 59 people have died in crashes in North Dakota. As of Aug. 30, 2009, 92 had died in crashes, Rumple said.

Rumple said motorists are also encouraged to monitor how fast they are driving.

“When conditions change, they need to adjust their speeds,” he said.

The National Weather Service said showers and thunderstorms are possible Sunday and Monday.

The public is encouraged to report erratic driving by calling 911.

Sun reporter Katie Ryan-Anderson can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by e-mail at kryan@jamestownsun.com

Tags: north dakota, highway patrol, labor day, news, driving, drunk, alcohol