Henderson Police officers arrested eight drivers on DUI charges and handed out more than 280 speeding tickets to motorists and motorcycle riders during a recent enforcement effort targeting impaired drivers.
Henderson Police officers, assisted by North Las Vegas Police, Boulder City Police and Nevada Highway Patrol, used saturation patrols to search the area for drunk drivers for an enforcement that started on July 1 and went through Monday.
The officers issued 289 tickets to motorists for speeding and another 10 citations for motorists driving while talking on a cellphone or texting.
The officers also issued a number of tickets to drivers for registration violations, no insurance or driving on a revoked, suspended or expired driver’s license.
In 2014, there were 9,967 drunken driving fatalities in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
These alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 31 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the country.
Last year, 326 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes on Nevada roadways. Alcohol was a contributing factor in 61 of those deaths, according to the Nevada Department of Public Safety – Office of Traffic Safety.
Clark County had 39 of the 61 alcohol-related traffic crash deaths in 2015 with a total of 210 of the 326 traffic fatalities.
So far this year there have been 152 traffic-related fatalities statewide with seven of those occurring in Henderson.
The Henderson Police Traffic Unit received funding from the Department of Public Safety - Office of Traffic Safety, as part of the Joining Forces Grant. The grant provides funding for enforcement and education to reduce deaths and injuries on Nevada roadways.
The grant will assist in funding special enforcement details throughout the year targeting seat belt usage, DUIs, pedestrian safety and speeding violations.
