North Idaho’s DUI Task Force has received a $28,750 grant from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving (NASID), and Responsibility.org to stop multi-substance impaired drivers. This funding will train more drug recognition experts (DREs) and law-enforcement phlebotomists, giving officers better tools to detect and remove impaired drivers from our roads.
The North Idaho DUI Task Force is a coalition of 15 regional law enforcement agencies representing jurisdictions in all five northern counties of the panhandle. They work together and with partners like the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) to stop impaired drivers in the region.
In 2023 the task force worked 12 joint operations during suspected DUI peak events and hours like evenings and weekends. Those enforcement operations coincided with community outreach aimed at educating drivers about the dangers of impaired driving before they get behind the wheel. For example, during the targeted enforcement on New Year’s Eve 2023, the task force made 30 DUI arrests, responded to one DUI crash and there were no DUI-related fatalities, showing that their efforts are saving lives.
Sergeant Troy Tulleners from Idaho State Police (ISP) District One highlighted the importance of collaboration in enhancing public safety. “The Idaho State Police is proud to work with local law enforcement and the Office of Highway Safety. By pooling resources and expertise, we ensure a comprehensive approach to traffic safety.”
The new grant will improve the capacity of local law enforcement to address multi-substance impaired driving. More trained DREs and law-enforcement phlebotomists will lead to safer roads and fewer collisions, protecting lives in North Idaho.
“Our law enforcement partners in Idaho and across the country are doing everything they can to address impaired driving and make our roads safer, but they face an incredible challenge and need our support,” said GHSA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins. “GHSA’s decade-long partnership with Responsibility.org and NASID helps provide law enforcement with the resources they need to identify impaired drivers, making our roads safer for everyone.”
Sergeant Tulleners emphasized the success of partnerships in reducing collisions and improving road safety. “Together, we have made significant strides in making our roads safer. This grant funding will bolster the Task Force members’ efforts during peak enforcement times in hopes of lowering the respective fatalities. Furthermore, it will be utilized to bolster the capabilities and training of officers, on or off the task force, in recognizing and stopping impaired drivers every shift.“
