The Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) says it’s already made a staggering number of DUI arrests in the month of December...and there's still one week left.
NHP, along with other law enforcement agencies across Nevada, are joining forces to combat DUI’s as the number of drunk driving arrests have skyrocketed.
“This December, we are seeing more DUI's than we have in previous years. Reno Troopers have already made 51 DUI arrests, and the month isn't even over," said Trooper Hannah DeGoey, Public Information Officer for the Nevada Highway Patrol.
The DUI joining forces campaign runs from December 21 to January 4 but it's not just the month of December that law enforcement is seeing an increase in DUI arrests. Even with 2020 keeping more people at home, there are still more drunk drivers than in previous years.
"Even though there have been fewer cars on the road, the trend of DUI's has increased," said Trooper DeGoey.
In 2018 alone, 133 people died on Nevada’s roadways in impaired driving crashes. Impaired driving is the #1 cause of crashes, injuries and fatalities in Nevada. And of course that doesn't just mean alcohol, like this arrest made for the driver suspected of driving under the influence of drugs.
"Not only are you going to lose your license and your family has to potentially drive you around, what if you kill somebody? And what is that burden you put on that other family?” said Trooper DeGoey.
And even if NHP is able to pull you over before someone is hurt, there is still a massive personal and financial cost. On average, your first DUI could cost upwards of $10,000.
"The consequences of a DUI include a revoked driver’s license, court fees, legal fees, and an ignition interlock device installed at your own expense," said Trooper DeGoey. "Being a responsible driver is simple, that means not getting behind the wheel when your impaired, that means calling a ride-share, calling a friend...it would be better to have them pick you up at a bar than pick you up at jail."
