Montana Law Enforcement is planning increased patrols in the Bozeman area over the holiday weekend. Residents are encouraged to plan for a sober ride home.
 
+ Local law enforcement and the Montana Highway Patrol are increasing their presence and patrols during the Fourth of July holiday and the weekend before
+ Montana has the highest share of alcohol-related traffic deaths in the U.S. at 45%, and in 2021 63% of all fatalities were the result of impaired driving
+ To ensure the safety of communities across Montana, law enforcement encourages residents to make a plan to get a sober ride home before they start drinking and celebrating the Fourth of July
 
BOZEMAN – As the Fourth of July weekend approaches, the Bozeman Police Department and the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) are encouraging Montanans to plan a sober ride home before they celebrate. The Fourth is one of the deadliest holidays in Montana, so law enforcement will be increasing patrols across the state and making DUI arrests to ensure every Montanan gets home safely. MHP and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) are committed to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on Montana’s roadways.

 
State law is that if drivers have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher, they could receive a DUI charge and other serious consequences, including having their driver’s license revoked, being required to take mandatory classes, and receiving possible jail time and up to $10,000 in fines and legal fees.

 
“If you’re celebrating this weekend or on the Fourth, be sure to make a plan for a safe ride home,” said Joseph Swanson, Patrol Captain for the Bozeman Police Department. “The important thing to know is how you will get home before you go out. Designate one of your friends as a sober driver, arrange for a rideshare service, cab, or public transportation, or call a friend or family member. If you see your friends or family have had too much to drink, look out for everyone’s safety and make sure they have a sober ride home, too.”

 
Why is law enforcement on high alert during the holiday weekend? These are Montana’s sobering statistics:
+ Montana has the highest fatality rates in the nation for the number of deaths caused by impaired drivers per vehicle mile traveled
+ The state has the highest share of alcohol-related traffic deaths at 45% (2021)
+ 63% of all traffic fatalities in Montana are the result of impaired driving (2021)
+ 1,268 people were killed in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver from 2012-2021
 
“By making a plan before you go out, you’ll help keep our roads safer for everyone and protect your community,” said Joseph Swanson, Patrol Captain for the Bozeman Police Department. “Make sure you celebrate responsibly as you gather with friends and family on the Fourth. Together we can keep our state safe.”

 
Montana Department of Transportation — Vision Zero 
This is a Vision Zero message from the Montana Department of Transportation. This and other enforcement and educational campaigns are strategies to reach Vision Zero — zero deaths and zero serious injuries on Montana roadways. For more information about Vision Zero, contact Janet Kenny, Montana Department of Transportation, at 406-444-7417 or jakenny@mt.gov.