Dixie officers vie for first DUI capture

HURRICANE, Washington County — The Washington County Sheriff's Office has turned the first drunken-driving arrest of the new year into a "competition" between officers.

The sheriff traditionally recognizes the officer who makes the New Year's DUI arrest. Washington County Sheriff's Lt. Jake Adams said it creates a healthy competition to aggressively crack down on drunken drivers.

"It is a fun way to step up enforcement and help prevent injury to the public at large," Adams said in a statement released Monday.

This year, Washington County sheriff's deputy Cory Norman won for pulling over a car near Telegraph Road and 200 West in Washington city around 3 a.m. on Jan. 1.

"I spotted a car with a broken taillight, but when I pulled the vehicle over I noticed a strong alcohol odor," Norman said. "The driver failed field sobriety tests and the vehicle was impounded."

The sheriff's office reported several DUI arrests over the New Year's weekend, but also said it was pleased to report a number of other cars stopped had designated drivers behind the wheel.