Burlington Police Doing Extra OUI Patrols Over Coming Weeks

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington Police Department are conducting extra OUI patrols through the holiday season, Chief Michael Kent announced Friday. The increased patrols began Friday and will last until Jan. 20. The patrols will be funded by $2,800 of a $14,000 grant awarded to the department by the state, earlier this month.

"Our department was fortunate to receive this grant to allow us to focus on a number of traffic enforcement initiatives to keep our community safe on the roads in the coming year," Chief Kent said in a statement. "The focus on OUI enforcement takes place over the holiday season as this is the time of year when we typically see an increase in OUI infractions. We hope our increased patrols will encourage residents to celebrate the holidays responsibly."

The release notes that 885 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in December, 2017, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There was also a nearly 50 percent increase in "weekend nighttime drivers who tested positive for THC, the active compound in marijuana, from 2007 to 2013-2014."

The department offered the following recommendations:

• "Plan ahead to have a designated driver or use public transportation if you will be drinking. If you’ve been drinking, call a sober friend or family member, use public transportation, or call a taxi or rideshare.

• Do not let someone get behind the wheel if you suspect they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• If you see a driver who appears to be impaired on the road, call the police immediately."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.