No Cinco de Mayo DUI death or injury crashes
The North Idaho DUI task force conducted a targeted push in Kootenai County for Cinco de Mayo to reduce injury/fatality crashes caused by impaired drivers.
"It was another successful operation where multiple impaired drivers were removed from our highways,” said Sgt. Justin Scotch, who leads the Idaho State Police branch of the DUI task force.
For Cinco de Mayo there were zero fatality or injury crashes, making the targeted push another success, with three out of four holidays this year resulting in zero injury crashes.
The task force also worked New Year’s weekend, Super Bowl Sunday and St. Patrick’s Day. On St. Patrick’s Day, there were three injury crashes and one fatality, making the Friday drinking holiday the least-successful targeted DUI push so far this year.
Cinco de Mayo was the fourth DUI push of 2023, and will be followed by another aggressive push for Memorial Day weekend, May 26-28. There will also be increased patrols during the 100 days of summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day to reduce injuries during the most-dangerous time of year for impaired driving crashes.
During a DUI task force push, law enforcement from multiple jurisdictions collaborate in a central location to target drunk or impaired drivers in traffic stops, usually in Kootenai County. The task force is grant-funded additional manpower to typical shifts and the goal is to save lives.
Statistics from ISP show that increased enforcement reduces crashes; but, throughout the year, the task force also focuses on education and awareness to prevent people from getting behind the wheel in the first place.
“We’re not the fun police,” Scotch said. Law enforcement just wants people to drink responsibly, because everyone on the task force has seen what impaired drivers can do, he added.
During major holidays, the task force can have anywhere from 10 to 30 additional personnel on the roads.
Below are arrest totals from the Cinco de Mayo North Idaho DUI Task Force:
• DUI arrests – 11
• Felony drug arrests – 2
• Warrant arrests – 3
• Open container violations – 1
• Disturbing the peace – 1
• Resisting or obstructing arrest – 1
• Domestic battery arrests with alcohol involved – 1
• Driver’s license violations – 1
• Misdemeanor drug offenses – 8
• Alcohol or drug-related injury or fatality crashes – 0