![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=13lWtw_0uDfk04q00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=13lWtw_0uDfk04q00)
BOZEMAN — The 4th of July is a holiday all about fun and fireworks. But unfortunately, it’s also one of America’s booziest holidays. I spoke with the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office about what they’re doing to prepare for drunk drivers this Independence Day.
I asked Brian Taylor, a patrol captain for Gallatin County Sheriff's office, “The 4th of July is coming up. What are you guys looking for?”
Taylor told me, “Just impaired drivers. So, swerving, inconsistent speeds, weaving within their lane, making wide turns."
Taylor has been with the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office for 15 years. He has worked many 4th of July’s here in Gallatin County.
I asked him if the Sheriff's Office sees more DUIs around the 4th.
“Last year not so much. But previous years, a lot busier than normal," Taylor told me.
Brian says last year, the Sheriff’s Office was surprised to have zero DUI arrests on the 4th. But that is a rare occurrence, considering the results shown by a recent report done by the Gallatin County DUI Task Force.
“In 2022, there were 56 DUI arrests in the month of July in Bozeman and Belgrade”.
Hali Kapperud is the coordinator for the Gallatin County DUI Task Force, an organization that works to educate the community on the dangers of driving under the influence.
“I compiled this report, and it was from case documents through full court enterprise,” says Hali.
Hali spent over a year compiling DUI arrest data from various courts around Gallatin County, all from the year 2022. She told me, this full DUI report hasn’t been done since 2014.
Hali confirmed with me, “There’s definitely a spike in DUI reports for all of the holidays that you see, and especially in the summer with the 4th of July”.
According to Hali’s report, the age group that’s seeing the most DUIs is 18 to 29. And they’re averaging a BAC (blood alcohol content) of around .18, more than 2 times the legal limit of .08.
These DUIs mostly occur from around 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. And the locations where they’re mostly occurring?
“Huffine, Four Corners, the intestate (I-90), Jackrabbit,” say both Taylor and Hali.
Which is why for this 4th of July, these locations will be seeing more Sheriff's Office vehicles than usual.
“We’re going to have some extra deputies out on the road this year. Their main focus being on DUI apprehension,” says Taylor.
But Taylor also tells me, the Sheriff's Office can only do so much. They’re asking the public to do their part.
“If somebody sees someone driving that they think’s impaired, call it in. And basically, just remember that it’s not just about breaking the law. They’re also putting other people's lives at risk. Their lives, their family's lives. Just thinking about more than themselves for the day."
For more information on the Gallatin County DUI Task Force and its reports, visit: https://www.gallatinmt.gov/dui-task-force
More Local News from KBZK
Owner of Madison Foods says she's 'ecstatic' over response to new Ennis location
Cassidy Powers
3:15 PM, Jul 02, 2024
Woman recreating trip her great-great-grandfather took 128 years ago
Jolee Sallee
8:49 PM, Jul 01, 2024
'Wranglers and Anglers': Ennis gearing up for 89th annual 4th of July Parade
Cassidy Powers
8:08 PM, Jul 01, 2024
USPS-run Post Office opening in Big Sky mid-July
Edgar Cedillo
7:57 PM, Jun 25, 2024
No boom in Bozeman? Fireworks restrictions in place within city limits
Hevenn Vanh
7:32 PM, Jun 25, 2024
Bozeman's Bridger Photonics named 2023 Exporter of the Year
Hevenn Vanh
7:29 PM, Jun 24, 2024
Why does Bozeman have permanent water restrictions if we're not in a drought?
Cassidy Powers
9:47 AM, Jun 22, 2024
Billings Clinic Bozeman and Bozeman Health announce plans to co-locate services
Jolee Sallee
1:37 PM, Jun 20, 2024
Comments / 0