Coeur d'Alene police: Only 2 DUIs New Year's Eve/Day

Coeur d'Alene police officers cited only two drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol between noon on New Year's Eve and noon on New Year's Day.

Capt. Dave Hagar was pleased.

"That's what we're looking for," he said Thursday.

Police had 20 officers on duty New Year's Eve and into New Year's Day, most focusing on the downtown area but also patrolling the entire city. That's eight more than usual.

"We wanted to have that presence," Hagar said.

He said officers made many traffic stops for violations such as running a red light, speeding and driving without headlights on, but only two turned into DUI citations.

He credited the city's downtown patrol unit that works closely with bars for the low number of DUIs. He said bar owners and staff have worked with police on cutting off people who may be drinking too much and calling car ride services so people don't drive under the influence of alcohol.

He said it also shows that people venturing out New Year's Eve planned ahead and had designated drivers.

"They are taking seriously the safety of their fellow community members," Hagar said.

Post Falls police had eight DUI arrests during Dec. 31-Jan. 1, while the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office had three DUI arrests between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.