Multi-agency saturation patrols aimed at preventing and stopping drunk drivers will continue during and after the final UO home game of the football season Friday.
In an effort to ensure football fans’ and other community members’ safety from impaired drivers on game days this season, local police agencies have partnered to put saturation patrols on the roads, searching out those driving under the influence. Tomorrow’s game will bring out officers from the Eugene Police Department, Springfield Police Department and Oregon State Police to focus on DUII patrols on the roadways leading to and from Autzen Stadium. Officers will make every effort to actively seek any vehicle that is the reported as a possible DUII, regardless of jurisdictional boundaries. Drivers who suspect dangerous or possible DUII drivers are encouraged to call 911 to support this effort.
This season’s targeted DUII enforcement effort is designed to increase the safety of people traveling to and from the area around Autzen Stadium after each home game. Such targeted enforcement has been a challenge in the past because DUII cases are time-intensive, and taking an officer away from his or her primary traffic direction and enforcement duties to process a DUII driver can impede safe traffic flow. To address this issue and ensure enough officers are available to identify, stop and process impaired drivers, the dedicated DUII patrols are staffed above and beyond the usual patrols scheduled for football game days, largely with the help of funding from state grants.
All community members, whether attending the game or not, are urged to drink responsibly if they do choose to consume alcohol, and to refrain from driving after drinking or consuming other substances that may affect their driving ability. Aside from the potentially tragic consequences of a collision due to a driver’s impairment by alcohol or other drugs, impaired drivers face a steep financial burden if arrested for driving under the influence and the suspension of their driver’s license.
Minors should note that if they mix drinking with driving, the thresholds of alcohol are lower for DUII-related penalties, including the charge of a minor in possession of alcohol, and the suspension of their license if ANY alcohol is found in a breath/blood test. Additionally, while it is commonly understood that those driving vehicles while impaired are a danger to others traveling around them, impaired bicyclists and pedestrians also put themselves at risk, and impaired bicyclists may face DUII charges. Drivers can be arrested for DUII if impaired by medications or drugs, or if under .08 percent alcohol if impairment is demonstrated.
Eugene Police encourage all sports fans to act responsibly to keep themselves and others safe as they enjoy the remainder of the 2013 football season!