County cracks down on impaired drivers

The Kootenai County Sheriff's Department is conducting an impaired driving emphasis focusing on alcohol and drug impaired drivers for the Kootenai County area.  The emphasis is sponsored by the Idaho Transportation Department, Office of Highway Operations and Safety. During the dates of August 27 to September 7, Kootenai County Deputies will be conducting emphasis patrols at various locations around the County, strictly enforcing impaired driver laws to help reduce the number of injury accidents for our County.  

In 2006, there were 110 impaired driving fatalities in the State of Idaho. Over 41% of all Idaho fatalities were the result of an impaired driving crash and 69% of those killed were not restrained.  In 2007 there were 197 fatality accidents and in 2008 there were approximately 175 fatality accidents in the State of Idaho.  Last year, more than 41 percent of Idaho's 96 highway fatalities were the result of an impaired driving crash. 

The goal of the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department participation in the mobilization, is to support the statewide highway safety goal of reducing motor vehicle related deaths and serious injuries by increasing the awareness and compliance by strictly enforcing impaired driving laws.  

Please help us in our endeavors by using designated drivers while on the roadways.  - Sheriff Rocky Watson