BFPD increases impaired driving enforcement this holiday season
(Courtesy photo BFPD)
BONNERS FERRY — This holiday season, the Bonners Ferry Police Department urges drivers to celebrate responsibly and plan ahead for a sober ride.
Now through the New Year, BFPD is joining more than 55 agencies across Idaho to dedicate additional law enforcement efforts to keep impaired drivers off the road.
According to Idaho Office of Highway Safety data, 40% of all fatalities in 2021 were the result of an impaired driving crash in Idaho.
“One life lost is too many. As 2022 ends, please celebrate the holidays wisely. Make safe decisions behind the wheel to avoid devastating consequences,” said Chief Brian Zimmerman. “Always buckle up and if your festivities will include alcohol, please make a plan for a sober ride home.”
While law enforcement will be on heightened watch for drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, preventing crashes is a shared responsibility in our community.
“Impaired driving puts Idahoans at risk every day and it’s completely preventable,” Zimmerman said. “We can all choose to avoid dangerous driving behaviors and help ensure a safer holiday for our friends, family and neighbors.”
What can you do to help? Celebrate with a plan. A single DUI conviction for a first-time offender in Idaho can include costly fines, court costs, legal fees, jail time and license suspension. Your judgment clouds when under the influence, so it’s important to plan a safe ride home before you leave the house.
• Designate a sober driver or plan to use a ride service to get home safely.
• Is it your turn to be the designated driver? Take that role seriously and do not drink any alcohol. Your friends and family are counting on you.
• If someone you know is about to drink and drive, take the keys away and help arrange a safe ride.
• Always buckle up — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.
Funding for extra patrols and overtime work focused on impaired driving enforcement is provided by a grant through the Idaho Office of Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.