Beginning August 17, 2012 the Northeast Devils Lake Regional DUI Task Force will implement heightened enforcement efforts against motorists driving under the influence.

The Northeast Devils Lake Regional DUI Task Force includes the following agencies: NDHP, Rolette, Cavalier, Benson, Wells, and Pierce County Sheriff’s Departments; Rolla, Devils Lake, Harvey, and Rugby Police Departments, and Fort Totten and Turtle Mountain law enforcement.

In an effort to deter impaired drivers during the enforcement period, the Northeast Devils Lake Regional DUI Task Force will assign additional patrol officers to monitor city, rural and state roadways.

Kyle Ternes, captain, North Dakota Highway Patrol, says the relevance of the issue is in the numbers. “In 2011 alone, 45 percent of all fatalities on North Dakota roadways were alcohol-related,” said Kirchmeier. “This issue affects our friends, family and neighbors. The number of people driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is just too high.”

Established in 2010 as a program designed to deter impaired driving, the Regional DUI Task Forces provide statewide DUI enforcement during select enforcement periods. Grant funding for the program is provided through the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT).

“The objective of the Regional DUI Task Force is to provide safe roads for all North Dakota motorists,” said Matt Lunde, Pierce County Sheriff.

“Each time we make an arrest for impaired driving we are accomplishing our goal,” said John Rose, chief, Rugby Police Department. “We will be out here in full force to protect the roads and the people on them until there are zero citations and zero alcohol or drug-related fatalities in North Dakota.”

The Regional DUI Task Force made over 6,200 DUI arrests in North Dakota in 2011.

This program also encourages being responsible by establishing a designated driver or a safe ride. The NDDOT launched the public safety campaign, Don’t Forget TODD, an interactive tool designed to remind people to designate a driver every time.

For more information on regional DUI enforcement activity throughout the state, please visit www.dontforgettodd.com. This website contains a list of select increased enforcement periods, as well as safe ride information, a text and email alert option to sign up for increased enforcement alerts and much more.