Local law enforcement increases patrols for Labor Day

The Libby Police Department is joining with thousands of other law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation to take part in a crackdown on impaired driving from Aug. 17 to Sept. 3. In each of the last two years, 2005 and 2006, five people died in vehicle crashes over the Labor Day weekend in Montana. On average, about half of the highway fatalities in Montana are due to alcohol involvement. "Every death due to an alcohol-related crash is a death that shouldn't have happened," said Libby Chief of Police Clay Coker. "We are going to do everything we can to prevent this holiday from being a deadly one."

The Libby Police Department will be running saturation patrols, adding shifts and taking overtime shifts in the effort to detect, deter and detain impaired drivers. "If you are caught driving while under the influence, you will be arrested," said Coker. "If you will be celebrating the Labor Day weekend, or if you plan to be traveling, make sure that a sober driver is behind the wheel. It's not worth the risk." The Montana Department of Transportation State Highway Traffic Safety Office is providing funding for additional patrols and overtime for the Montana Highway Patrol, the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association and a total of about 56 police and sheriffs departments for the Labor Day crackdown across the state. The national "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." impaired driving crackdown is a prevention program organized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that focuses on high visibility enforcement combined with heightened public awareness.