Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009 | 11:59 a.m.
Seven Southern Nevada law enforcement agencies plan to step up patrols for those driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs this Halloween weekend.
With Halloween on Saturday, saturation patrols will include troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol and law enforcement from Henderson, Metro Police, Mesquite, Boulder City, Lincoln County and Nye County. Officers will look for impaired drivers, as well as speeders, seat belt and child safety violators and anyone making dangerous moves on the road, including pedestrians and motorists failing to yield to them.
Police officers focus on specific areas under the Joining Forces campaign, targeting enforcement efforts in problem areas, authorities said.
The heightened law enforcement presence will be on U.S. 95, from Boulder Highway to Cheyenne Boulevard; on Interstate 15 and Las Vegas Boulevard from Sahara Avenue to St. Rose Parkway; from St. Rose Parkway north to Silverado Ranch Boulevard on Eastern Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard; and in the area near Metro Police East Area and South Central Area commands.
So far in 2009, law enforcement during Joining Forces events have arrested 1,134 suspected DUI drivers in addition to the 49,447 citations written. There were an additional 15,236 warnings issued.
"The end result is Joining Forces is saving lives, and the Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety couldn't be happier," said program administrator Valerie Evans.
Fatal accidents and injuries in Nevada and Clark County have dropped in the past three years, from an all-time high of 431 deaths in 2006 to 324 in 2008, a 24.8 percent decline, Evans said. Year-to-date fatal collisions continue to drop in Nevada and Clark County.
"Participating in the program grows each year, because the program works," Evans said.
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