Trooper Ross Miller's patrol vehicle after he drove it into the path of a wrong-way DUI driver on Oct. 20, 2023.
Last New Year’s Eve saw nary an instance of driving under the influence in Douglas County, despite being a three-day weekend.
People were drinking alcohol and getting into trouble, but apparently not getting behind the wheel in what might be a first for a New Year’s Eve in the county.
There have been plenty of driving under the influence arrests in the county since then, including three on Thursday, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office roster.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Nevada State Police conducted a Statewide Impaired Driving Apprehension Campaign in honor of two fallen troopers where they had 13 DUI arrests across Northern Nevada.
Douglas County has experienced some horrible fatalities involving driving under the influence, including the 2022 death of Fallon Montanucci on Highway 395 near where a memorial was dedicated on Dec. 3.
“Drunk driving in recent years has been the cause for some of the worst tragedies to befall our small community,” said Sheriff Dan Coverley. “We want our community to have a wonderful holiday season, but we want them to do it responsibly, and that means if you are drinking alcohol don’t drive. There are many choices for a safe ride home; use them.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit are teaming up to remind drivers: “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
This high-visibility impaired driving awareness campaign runs through Jan. 1. In support of the law enforcement community’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, drivers will see officers working together during the holiday season to take drunk drivers off the roads.
Alcohol-impaired driving is deadly and continues to be a factor in fatal traffic crashes in the United States, especially during the holidays. During the 2018-2022 December months, there were 4,759 people killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. In December 2022 alone, 1,062 people died in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. Unfortunately, males and young people are at greatest risk for injury or fatality: In December 2022, drunk male drivers were involved in fatal crashes at a much higher rate (22 percent) compared to female drivers (16 percent), and young drivers ages 21-34 accounted for the highest percentage (25 percent) of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes.
Drivers should be safe during the holidays by planning if they intend to drink. They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Impairment clouds a person’s judgment. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.
If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive — separate the person from their keys and help them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots a drunk driver, call 911 and be a good witness.
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
