The Oregon State Police (OSP) is ramping up patrols in Central Oregon from Feb. 16-18, 2024. A high visibility saturation patrol is planned for the President’s Day long weekend and coincides with the annual Bend Winterfest which is expected to increase local traffic and bring a large number of visitors to the area.
Troopers will be focused on impaired driving prevention, detection, and enforcement along with an emphasis on Fatal 5 violations which are statistically shown to contribute to serious injury and fatal crashes.
Fatal 5 violations include:
- Speed
- Occupant Safety
- Lane Usage
- Impaired Driving
- Distracted Driving
“Safety is always our primary goal. We want to intercept impaired drivers before they can hurt themselves or someone else,” said Capt. Kyle Kennedy. “We know that speed, distracted, impaired, and other unsafe driving behaviors are major contributors to serious injury and fatal crashes. We proactively enforce dangerous driving behaviors to help minimize the impacts to our communities.”
OSP and City of Bend patrols will be focusing coverage along Hwy. 97, Hwy. 20W, and within the city of Bend.
