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MURRAY — A statewide DUI blitz nets 64 arrests on Utah roadways over the weekend.
The Utah Highway Patrol reported the total Sunday following a weekend effort to target motorists who might be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Spokesman Dwayne Baird said more than 100 additional troopers patrolled state roads over the weekend, along with local law enforcement on area streets, and the effort will extend through Monday.
"We realize that Halloween is a "party-time type weekend" and we wanted to be out to enforce the drunk driving laws and hopefully keep people off the streets," Baird said.
"If we have one motorist out on the road drinking and driving, then that is one too many." Dwayne Baird, UHP
While Utah has been recognized as having the lowest alcohol impaired driving fatality rate in the nation, zero fatalities will always be the goal, he said.
"We had several DUI checkpoints where we took (randomly selected) motorists off the roadway to determine if they had been under the influence," Baird explained. "We also had extra troopers as well as local city and county law enforcement out in force on the state's highways and (streets) … a concerted effort all across the board."
Baird said the extra manpower would be on-duty on Halloween as well to protect kids and adults who are out trick or treating on Monday.
"We're hoping to get people to understand that there is a huge danger of children out on the roadways going through neighborhoods," he said.
While Baird said authorities are grateful about the arrests that were made, getting to the point where none were necessary would be their ultimate goal.
"If we have one motorist out on the road drinking and driving, then that is one too many," Baird said. "Because of the aspect of public safety, we want to be out there to enforce the law and make people realize that if you're going to drink and drive, you're going to be in a lot of trouble."
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