Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:00 am
Each year many lives are lost in Oregon by impaired drivers, a problem especially acute during the summer months.
That's why many Oregon law enforcement agencies have announced they will join more than 10,000 police agencies throughout the country in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving starting Aug. 15 through the end of Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1.
Nationally, more than $50 million will be spent on this year's crackdown, known by its tagline: Drunk Driving: Over the Limit. Under Arrest.
Nationally, in 2006, nearly 13,500 people died in crashes in which the driver or motorcycle rider was legally impaired, according to the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Thirty-two percent of motor vehicle driving fatalities involved a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or above, with an average of one fatality every 39 minutes.
While Oregon statistics show the percentage of fatalities determined to be alcohol-related has decreased from 42.9 percent in 1997 to 37.4 percent in 2006, DUII offenses increased during that same period by more than 10 percent.
"The message from Oregon law enforcement agencies is simple and unwavering," said Captain Gerry Gregg, director of the Oregon State Patrol Services Division. "If we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions. Even if you think you have beat the odds of being caught and walk away from an impaired driving crash alive, motorists should be aware that officers can follow up on these incidents and you may still face legal consequences."