DUI blitz across state is ongoing

During a long holiday weekend that has, so far, been safer than usual for travelers on state roads, Utah Highway Patrol troopers and local police have teamed up to crackdown on dangerous drivers and unsafe habits behind the wheel.

UHP Sgt. Jeff Tingey said the two fatalities reported as of Sunday afternoon on Memorial Day weekend is below average compared to past years, but "even two deaths is two too many."

In an effort to continue to reduce the number of deaths on Utah roads, DUI blitz and enhanced enforcement efforts are under way across the state through today and have netted dozens of offenders, Tingey said.

"Highway patrol has teamed with local agencies and conducted our own blitz efforts this weekend focused on DUI enforcement as well as an ongoing focus on 'click-it or ticket,'" Tingey said.

UHP troopers teamed with local police in Clearfield and Cottonwood Heights Saturday night, netting 3 impaired drivers and a handful of drug-related arrests, Tingey said.

UHP enhanced enforcement in Weber and Salt Lake Counties resulted in 33 DUI arrests, and one major pot bust on I-80, with officers seizing 22 pounds of the drug.

Tingey said he was pleased with the results of the extra patrols, and hoped that the message was getting across to motorists.

"We are doing really good this year and enforcement and education efforts seem to be paying off," Tingey said. "People are starting to get the hint to buckle-up, get a designated driver and slow down."

— Arthur Raymond