Increased law enforcement on patrol during the holiday season

Helena – Increased law enforcement patrols in Lewis & Clark County will begin during the weeks leading up to Christmas and lasting over New Year’s Day to keep Montana’s roads free of impaired drivers.

The Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office, along with other area law enforcement agencies, encourage all drivers to drive sober this holiday or find a sober ride.

“There is zero tolerance for impaired drivers in Montana,” says Sheriff Leo Dutton. “Plan your sober transportation if you plan to drink, and offer to be the designated driver if you know you won’t be drinking.”

More celebrations happen this time of year than any other as families and friends travel to spend time with each other. Nationally, 885 people lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver during the month of December 2017. In Montana, one tenth of the year’s impaired driving crashes happen in December.

Consequences of impaired driving include a DUI, having your license revoked, possible jail time, and up to $10,000 in fines.

“Montanans have successfully decreased the number of alcohol-related incidents around the holidays over the last two years,” says Sergeant Chris Weiss, “and we know that we can reduce that number to zero if everyone does their part.”

Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app, Uber, or Lyft prior to leaving home so you are prepared. Designate a sober driver. Ask someone to call you a ride. If you see a suspected impaired driver, report it by calling 911.

This is a Vision Zero Message from the Montana Department of Transportation. This and other enforcement and educational campaigns are strategies to reach Vision Zero — zero deaths and zero serious injuries on Montana roadways. For more information about Vision Zero, contact Janet Kenny, Montana Department of Transportation, (406) 444-7417, or [email protected].