Summer DUI Saturation Patrol Heats Up - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Summer DUI Saturation Patrol Heats Up

The North Dakota Highway Patrol issues 33 citations and arrests six drivers for drunk driving in the Bismarck/Mandan region.

Troopers were out in force this weekend for the start of summer saturation patrol.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol often does checkpoints and alcohol enforcement saturations when there is increased traffic.

This weekend, four troopers were patrolling Burleigh and Morton counties to crack down on drunk drivers.

As of May 7th - 43 people have lost their lives in traffic crashes on North Dakota highways.

Around half of the deaths were alcohol related.

Sgt. Patrick Hudson says the extra DUI patrols... are necessary to try and prevent any more.

"A lot of people don't think they're intoxicated, even though they are, that's one of the first things that goes when you consume alcohol is your judgment, so it's about prior planning having a designated driver, public transportation, they're either consciously deciding to drive, or not aware of the issues we're having with this."

Sgt. Hudson says they also issued citations for minor in possession, open container and there was one drug paraphernalia arrest.