Police urge people to celebrate the season safely

In a press release issued this morning, Havre police said they will increase patrols in Havre from Dec. 16 to Jan. 2.

The holiday season brings cheer and seasons greetings, but people will also have to mindful of drunk driving as patrols will be in full force during the holidays, the release said.

There are many things people look forward to from year to year, one thing that should not be a tradition is Montanans losing their lives because of drunk drivers.

“The holiday season should be a happy time for all Montanans,” Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich said in the press release, “and it can be, as long as we are all responsible and make a plan for our travel. That includes never driving while impaired, wearing your seatbelt every time you get in your vehicle, and making sure all of your passengers wear their seat belts too.”

This December, Havre law enforcement and Montana Highway Patrol will be watching for impaired driving, educating motorists and handing out tickets or even making arrests when necessary. Their goal is to keep roads safe for everyone, and supports the Montana Department of Transportation’s Vision Zero Program, and their aim of zero deaths and zero injuries on Montana roadways.

While Montana has made progress, the statistics are still grim, the release said. Over the last 10 years 1,194 people have been killed and 3,012 have been seriously injured in vehicle crashes involving an impaired driver on Montana’s roadways.

“Remember, it is never acceptable to drive while impaired,” Matosich said. “There are no excuses and officers will not be making any exceptions. They will be enforcing the law-period.”

Beyond the risk of injury or death, choosing to drive impaired in Montana has serious and costly consequences, the release added. It can result in receiving a DUI, having your license revoked, up to $10,000 in fines and even jail time.

The police department recommends designating a sober driver, expect friends and family to drive sober, provide safe transportation for party guests as well as providing non-alcoholic beverages, report inebriated drivers and to remember that the best defense against a drunk driver is wearing a seatbelt, the release said.

For more information about Vision Zero, people can contact Janet Kenny at the Montana Department of Transportation at 406-444-7417 or via email at [email protected].