This Thursday is St. Patrick’s Day. It’s one of Montana’s most high-spirited celebrations. So law enforcement is ramping up patrols.
Butte will be the center of attention. That means stepped-up enforcement of impaired driving laws.
Captain Keith Edgell is with Montana Highway Patrol. He says they’re bringing up to 20 additional troopers to the Butte area.
"We’re bringing in our traffic enforcement team, which is a six-man unit to Butte, as well. In addition they usually pull in four or five additional people from other districts to help with St. Patrick’s Day in Butte."
Money to cover the costs for the increased patrols comes from the Montana Department of Transportation. Those dollars come from the national Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
It’s not just MHP out looking for impaired drivers. Local police and county sheriffs throughout the state will increase patrols.
Edgell says they realize people will be out and enjoying St. Patrick’s Day and having a good time. They just ask for everyone to have a designated driver and wear seatbelts.
The Montana Department of Transportation reports that in the last decade, 73 percent of fatalities and serious injuries involved either driver impairment or not properly wearing a seat belt.