Holiday also means drivers being watched

Following a particularly deadly October on Kootenai County roadways, local law enforcement agencies are on a mission to curtail crashes and crash-related fatalities due to impaired driving during the holiday season.

On average, there are eight traffic-related fatalities per year in Kootenai County. This year, during the month of October, there were seven fatalities from six different incidents. Five of those deaths were believed to have been caused by impaired drivers. Incidents of impaired driving increase during the holidays and law enforcement agencies throughout Kootenai County are committed to preventing impaired driving-related crashes this holiday season.

Prior to the start of the parade and lighting ceremony in downtown Coeur d’Alene this Friday night, police officers and county deputies will have a booth in The Resort Plaza Shops where they will demonstrate the dangers of impaired driving. Anyone who stops by the booth can enter a drawing to win a football autographed by Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien.

During the parade, law enforcement personnel will escort a float with the message: “Be a Hero. Prevent Impaired Driving.”

Officers will then return to their jurisdictions to conduct a “No Refusal Weekend,” meaning if someone refuses to provide a breath sample, law enforcement officers will request a search warrant to get an evidentiary blood sample. The goal is to reduce the number of impaired drivers on the road.

On Saturday, Nov. 25, the Post Falls Police Department will host a virtual ride-along on the department’s Facebook page. The virtual ride-along will provide real-time information about the countywide DUI emphasis patrols.

Fire Artisan Pizza is partnering with law enforcement personnel by donating coupons for free pizza that will be given to sober drivers during the emphasis patrols.