Post 4 leads its region in DUI arrests in January

Post 4 troopers led the Kentucky State Police West Region in arrests for driving under the influence during the first month of 2013.

The West Region includes eight post areas, which cover a total of 64 counties. Of those counties, Post 4 serves eight, including Hardin and LaRue.

Norman Chaffins, spokesman of the Elizabethtown post, said troopers arrested 47 impaired drivers in January. The second ranked post made 39 DUI arrests, he said.

Those arrests include drunken and drugged drivers, Chaffins said.

According to Chaffins, 47 arrests is average for Post 4 troopers and he said he expects DUI arrests in the coming months to remain close to that number.

Chaffins said he was unable to provide specific locations on where the highest number of DUI arrests occurred but added troopers are spotting impaired drivers throughout the eight-county coverage area, including in the dry or moist counties such as Grayson.

“It’s where there is likely to be alcohol activity,” he said.

According to Chaffins, most arrests are being made within the vicinity of alcohol-related establishments.

He explained troopers are not stationing themselves outside those businesses but rather spotting more traffic violations as they patrol those areas.

State police are continuing to conduct traffic safety checkpoints throughout the post area in search of impaired drivers, unrestrained motorists and other traffic violations, according to a news release.

As of Monday, 52 motorists have died on state roadways in 2013, according to the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. Of those, 41 involved suspected alcohol use.

Sarah Bennett can be reached at (270) 505-1750 or sbennett@thenewsenterprise.com.

BY THE NUMBERS

Spokesman Norman Chaffins said Post 4 typically is among the top five posts statewide in trooper activity, including DUI arrests and citations issued.

“Number one, it has to do with the handwork of our troopers and also post leadership,” he said.

2,059 vehicles inspected

1,658 citations issued

1,281 citizen complaints answered

936 courtesy notices issued in lieu of traffic citations

673 special details

351 speeders cited

216 criminal arrests made

209 stranded motorists assisted

140 violators cited for failure to wear seatbelt

92 crashes investigated

Source: Kentucky State Police Post 4