Jamestown (CSi) The Southeast Jamestown Regional DUI Task Force has announced that there will be an enhanced law enforcement presence and additional law enforcement officers on rural, city and state roads throughout the southeast Jamestown region this month.

The Southeast Jamestown Regional DUI Task Force includes the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Foster, Griggs, Stutsman, McIntosh, Barnes and LaMoure counties’ sheriff’s depar-tments and Carrington, Jamestown, Valley City and Oakes police departments.

Capt. Bryan Niewind of the North Dakota Highway Patrol, says “During our end of year enforcement in 2013, numerous drug and alcohol-related citations and arrests were made in our region. In my opinion, even one is too many.”

The task force’s last enforcement period Oct. 1-31 netted six driving under the influence arrests, six other alcohol-related citations, four seat belt citations, 13 speed citations, three driving while license was suspended citations and 18 other arrests and traffic citations.

Niewind said, one of the biggest problems in preventing impaired driving is getting people to understand that buzzed driving is no different from drunk driving, Law enforcement officials stress that any alcohol in a motorist’s system will affect his or her driving ability and encourage those who are going to drink to find a safe way home.

Stutsman County Sheriff, Chad Kaiser said, “Tragically, DUI deaths account for more than 46 percent of highway traffic fatalities. So if these drivers had made a responsible choice and not gotten behind the wheel while impaired, 85 families would still be spending the holidays with their loved one.”

The Task Force said, In addition to alcohol, the task force also noted seeing impaired driving problems as a result of prescription drugs. Motorists should take warning labels seriously as many prescriptions can impair judgment and motor skills, resulting in dangerous impaired driving.

Funding for this enforcement is provided through the North Dakota Department of Transportation.