The Bismarck Police Department will be adding extra patrol for St. Patrick’s Day. The Bismarck Police Department will be conducting an impaired driving saturation enforcement Friday night.
“Our patrols will do their part, but we can all be a part of making our roads safer by making sure our friends and family are sober drivers,” said Bismarck Traffic Sergeant Luke Gardiner. “Citizens are encouraged to call 9-1-1 if they suspect a driver is impaired.”
The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) grants funds for extra DUI enforcement as part of an overall effort to reduce deaths and injuries on North Dakota roads.
“A crash where alcohol and/or drugs is involved is not the result of a random chance—it’s the result of a driver’s choice to get behind the wheel while impaired and put lives in jeopardy, including their own,” Gardner said. “Impaired driving crashes are 100 percent preventable.”
The Bismarck Police Department recommends the following easy steps, for a safe St. Patrick’s Day.
- Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
- Before drinking, please designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home;
- If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely;
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local police immediately. You could save a life;
- And remember, if you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.