Saturation patrol this weekend

The North Dakota Highway Patrol Southeast Region will conduct an alcohol saturation event this weekend in Dickey County. In conjunction with the alcohol saturation event, a sobriety checkpoint will be conducted at an undisclosed location and time Friday in Dickey County.

North Dakota continues to experience losses of life due to impaired driving. In 2010, 55 people lost their life in alcohol-related crashes. To date in 2011, eight people have died in alcohol-related crashes. Approximately half of all fatal crashes are alcohol related, which ranks the use of alcohol as the largest contributing factor.

The purpose of the checkpoint is to deter and detect impaired drivers and not to make a large number of arrests.

“Our goal is for drivers to give a second thought before getting behind the wheel,” Sgt. Tom Herzig said. “We want people to make safe, sober decisions resulting in saved lives.”

Additional troopers will be patrolling in and around Dickey County during this saturation event.

The sobriety checkpoint will be conducted in accordance with state and federal guidelines. Once the checkpoint is completed, troopers will patrol the area looking for impaired drivers.

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