Utah Highway Patrol to add more than 100 extra officers for St. Patrick’s Day weekend

Photo Courtesy: UHP Twitter

Utah, March 15, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah Highway Patrol officials announced Thursday they will be adding more than 100 extra officers for the St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

The extra shifts will include a DUI blitz in Salt Lake County that begins on Friday night.

A Twitter post from the UHP says: “Which route will you choose? Do not drink and drive.”

Troopers suggest that those who go out partying this weekend either get behind the wheel sober, assign a designated driver, ride share, or take a cab, Uber or Lyft.

UHP will be working with other agencies including West Valley City Police Department, which tweeted Thursday: “If you plan to have even one drink, choose now to get a safe ride home. Don’t wait until you’ve already been drinking to make that choice.”

In 2017, UHP spokesman Lt. Todd Royce told Gephardt Daily troopers pulled over 1,893 vehicles and arrested 38 drivers for driving under the influence in a 24-hour period beginning at 6 a.m. Friday.

Royce said there were no alcohol-related crashes or fatalities on Utah roadways over the weekend, and with the holiday being on a Friday, the department was grateful for that. This year, the holiday falls on a Saturday.

“It was a worry for us with St. Patrick’s Day leading into a weekend,” Royce said. “We want to thank people who knew they were going to be drinking and planned either a ride share, a taxi or a designated driver. Thank you for doing it the right way. It was the best case scenario for us that people had a plan and decided to not to drive impaired.”

Of the the total number of traffic stops, Royce said there were 122 seat belt violations and 967 speed violations.

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