BATH

As area residents enjoy the Super Bowl festivities this weekend, those who are driving should beware that Sagadahoc County Sheriff ’s Office will be conducting saturation patrols Sunday looking for impaired drivers.

Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry said the OUIRIDE (Regional Impaired Driving Enforcement) patrol will occur Feb. 5-8, with a special emphasis placed on the weekend.

This patrol will be conducted during the evening hours to help reduce the incidence of impaired driving and alcohol and drug fatalities. The safety detail is funded through a Maine Bureau of Highway Safety grant.

According to the announcement about the patrol: “We really don’t want to arrest anyone for operating while impaired, but we will to keep our highways safe for motorists. We want drivers to know we will be out, in force, looking for impaired drivers. We hope because of this notice, someone might think twice before getting behind the wheel after having consumed alcohol or otherwise being impaired.”

To date, Merry said the sheriff ’s office has completed two of the anticipated 12 2017 OUI-RIDE enforcements. So far, efforts have resulted in three OUI arrests, one drug charge and summonses for infractions such as speeding, interim license violations, and uninsured motorists.

Last year, the RIDE enforcement resulted in nine OUI arrests, 17 operating after suspension arrests, 30 drug charges, and 34 miscellaneous charges such as outstanding warrants, violation of conditions of release and other misdemeanors.

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