The Nevada Highway Patrol reports arresting nine people in Carson City over the three-day holiday weekend, eight of the arrests being for motorists driving under the influence and one was arrested on a warrant.
The figures are from Friday to Sunday. The best news to report is that the Northern Nevada area didn't have a single highway fatality crash this year over the Nevada Day weekend, said NHP Trooper Chuck Allen.
In the Reno-Sparks area, 26 were arrested, 13 being for driving under the influence, nine on arrest warrants, and four on misdemeanors.
Last year in Northern Nevada over the three-day Nevada Day weekend, NHP arrested 25 motorists for driving under the influence. Seventeen of those DUI arrests were made in the greater Reno-Sparks area and eight were in the Carson City area, Allen said. The number of DUI arrests remained the same in Carson City this weekend and the Reno-Sparks area had a reduction of 4 DUI arrests this year.
Meanwhile, the Carson City Sheriff's Office, assisted by other area law enforcement agencies, will conduct a DUI checkpoint on Saturday, Nov. 06 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Highway 50 East.
Drunk driving is one of the America's deadliest crimes. Driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state, yet we continue to see far too many people suffer as a result of impaired driving, said Sheriff Ken Furlong in a press statement.
Already this year, more than 200 people have been arrested in Carson City for drunk driving. Making matters worse, 2010 has been a very deadly year for fatal automobile accidents along the Highway 50 corridor connecting Carson City and Lyon County, Furlong added.
"Our message is simple, no matter what you drive — a passenger car, pickup, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle, if you are caught driving impaired, you will be arrested," Furlong said. "The Carson City Sheriff's Office is dedicated to removing impaired drivers from our roadways where ever and when ever we find them."
Drunk driving is simply not worth the risk. Not only do you risk killing yourself or some one else, but the trauma and financial costs of a minimal crash resulting in an arrest for impaired driving are significant. With the kickoff of this years holiday season just a few short weeks away, this awareness campaign should signal everyone to celebrate responsibly. When celebrating the season, designated drivers and public transportation are sure bet methods to avoid an irreversible tragedy, Furlong said.
The check point is paid for by the Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety.