Media Manager

Law enforcement officers throughout Idaho are on the lookout for impaired drivers as part of a nationwide Labor Day mobilization targeting drunk driving through Sept. 7.

By increasing patrols, officers expect to arrest more drunk drivers and make the holiday weekend safer for motorists. Overtime costs for the additional enforcement patrols are covered by a federal grant administered by the transportation department.

Kevin Bechen, with ITD's Office of Highway Operations and Safety, advises people to plan ahead if their weekend celebrations involve alcohol.

"Designate a sober driver and give up those car keys, arrange for alternative transportation, don't let someone drive that you know is impaired, and always wear your seat belt," Bechen said. He added that if you see a possible drunk driver on the roadway, find a safe place to pull over and report that driver by dialing *ISP. 

Last year, more than 28 percent of all Idaho highway fatalities were the result of an impaired driving crash. The state's law enforcement agencies made more than 12,000 DUI arrests in 2009.