Police in Westmoreland County to target DUI, aggressive drivers through New Year's Day

Dec. 2—Westmoreland County drivers can expect to see more police patrols focused on cracking down on aggressive and impaired drivers in the region through the New Year's holiday.

"Whether it's day or night, people can expect to see increased state police patrols targeting impaired drivers," said Lt. Ryan Maher of Troop A in Greensburg.

Maher was among the local and state police officers and PennDOT officials who Thursday at the Latrobe Municipal Building announced the launch of the annual Operation Safe Holiday Campaign.

The patrols in Cambria, Indiana, Somerset and Westmoreland counties with Troop A will not only be focusing on impaired drivers, "but aggressive drivers and speeders," Maher said.

During 2020, between Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, Troop A investigated six traffic fatalities and 96 additional wrecks that resulted in injuries. Maher said 27 of those "holiday" accidents involved impaired drivers.

"Our goal is to attempt to reduce that number this year," Maher said.

However, Maher admitted that the 2020 numbers will be difficult to match in view that many area residents stayed home due to the covid-19 pandemic.

"This year, we'll have a lot more people travelling," Maher said.

Latrobe Police Sgt. Bob Derk, who heads the Laurel Highlands DUI Task Force, comprised of 13 departments in Westmoreland and one in Connellsville, Fayette County, said the unit will stage its first sobriety checkpoint of this holiday season on Friday night.

"These enforcement patrols will include stationary sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols focused on detecting and arresting impaired drivers. I would also like to remind everyone that some prescription medications, including marijuana, can adversely affect one's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle," Derk said.

The checkpoints will be held every weekend through Jan. 2, Derk said. He declined to specify the area, but said it will be in one of the unit's member municipalities.

The unit's Westmoreland members include Derry, Greensburg, Jeannette, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant, North Huntingdon, Rostraver, Scottdale, Seward, Southwest Greensburg and St. Clair.

PennDOT spokesman Jay Ofsanik noted that Operation Safe Holiday was launched statewide in 2004 "and began as a one-day safety and sobriety checkpoint on Thanksgiving Eve." He said in 2008, it was restructured to include aggressive drivers and unbelted occupants as well as impaired drivers.

"The holiday season should be a time of happiness, joy and sharing time with family and friends. A time of fond memories," Ofsanik said.

However, Ofsanik noted that in 2020 some 49 families statewide lost loved ones during the holiday season.

"Our message here is simple. If you're out, slow down, buckle up and don't drive impaired," Ofsanik said.

Paul Peirce is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at 724-850-2860, ppeirce@triblive.com or via Twitter .