Memorial Day kicks off summer driving season, tragedy prompts special emphasis patrol in north-central Idaho

The 100 days between the Memorial and Labor Day holidays is the deadliest time for crashes on Idaho roads, according to Idaho Transportation Department statistics. The increase in crashes comes at a time when driving and road conditions often are at their best.  

Law enforcement agencies throughout Idaho will be on the lookout for unsafe driving behavior, such as driving impaired, distracted or aggressively. Anyone driving in a manner that puts themselves or others at risk faces being stopped by an officer.

This year, Idaho State Police along with local law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys' offices in Latah, Clearwater, Nez Perce, Lewis and Idaho counties, and ITD are partnering to stop impaired driving, one of the most deadly and preventable causes of crashes with "No Refusal Weekend," an impaired-driving emphasis patrol.

During the Memorial Day weekend if any driver suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs refuses to provide an evidentiary sample, law enforcement and the prosecutor offices will seek a search warrant to obtain an evidentiary sample.

"This is the first time that law enforcement in north central Idaho has held a 'No Refusal' emphasis patrol," said Idaho State Police Sergeant Rich Adamson.  "We are dedicating this event to the memory of Russell Raschka (pictured right), a Lewiston teen who tragically lost his life last year at the hands of an impaired driver. Raschka's death has taken a toll on this community and we want to remind anyone who might think about getting behind the wheel after drinking that real lives are at stake, and that it is just not worth the risk of killing someone else or yourself."

Raschka was killed in April 2015 when an impaired driver struck the vehicle in which he was a passenger.  Jordan Fuller, 26 of Lewiston, pleaded guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter in February of this year.  She is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence with two years fixed.

"Our family has suffered a tragedy.  We support the efforts of law enforcement in getting drunk drivers off of our roads so that no other family has to endure what we have this past year," said a Raschka family spokesperson.

The agencies participating in the "No Refusal Weekend" include the following:

Orofino Police Department
Clearwater County Sheriff's Office
Clearwater County Prosecuting Attorney's Office
Grangeville Police Department
Kamiah Marshal's Office
Idaho County Prosecuting Attorney's Office
Moscow Police Department
Latah County Sheriff's Office
Latah County Prosecuting Attorney's Office
Lewis County Sheriff's Office
Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office
Nez Perce County Sheriff's Office
Nez Perce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office
Idaho State Police

Law enforcement will continue to work as one team throughout the summer with a goal to reduce deadly crashes caused by dangerous driving behaviors including distracted drivers, aggressive drivers, speed, as well as, seat-belt enforcement. ITD's Office of Highway Safety is providing grant funds that will allow law enforcement agencies to pay for extra patrols dedicated to traffic law enforcement.  

Avoid becoming a DUI statistic by planning ahead

- Plan not to drink and drive before you start drinking. Alcohol impairs a person's ability to determine if they should drive. You can't count on making the right decision after you've consumed alcohol.

- Designate a sober driver and give that person your keys.

- Plan to call a taxi, a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.

- Offer non-alcoholic beverages when entertaining.

- Promptly report drunk drivers to 9-1-1 or *ISP (*477) on your mobile phone.

- Wear your seat belt. This is the best defense against an impaired driver.

- Friends don't let friends drive drunk or impaired. If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, take their car keys and make other safe travel arrangements to get them home, or offer a spare bedroom or sofa to "sleep it off." 

Published 05-27-16