Oklahoma County Sheriff Talks Extra Patrols, Safety During Thanksgiving Weekend

With tens of millions hitting the street and others lining up for vacation buying, the Thanksgiving weekend may be hectic throughout the nation. 

An Oklahoma County Sheriff talked to Information 9 about holding intoxicated drivers off the roads and different methods to remain protected.

Sheriff Tommie Johnson III stated there can be additional patrols on the lookout for erratic driving patterns through the vacation weekend 

“We now have folks out in areas, excessive visibility. They will be performing quite a lot of site visitors stops simply to make sure our motoring public are protected,” Johnson stated.

In response to the Oklahoma Freeway Security Workplace, over the course of Thanksgiving weekend in 2020, from Nov. 25 by way of Nov. 29, there have been 486 crashes involving 1,179 folks. Of these crashes, 34 have been associated to alcohol or medication, killing two folks.

“Thanksgiving is a vacation the place we are inclined to see a spike in intoxicated driving,” Johnson stated. “And it is simply since you received household round one another, associates, family members. They collect. Many journey from everywhere in the nation to 1 place to see one another. In order that they actually have a good time one another, and love one another, and love one another exhausting. And that is simply a part of it. However we are saying, there are tons of choices on the market and drunk driving is just not considered one of them. And we stand agency on that assertion right here on the Sheriff’s Workplace.”

Johnson urged individuals who have been ingesting to discover different choices, like ride-shares and taxis. However alcohol is just not the one concern.

“Individuals suppose that having the medical marijuana card grants them the exemption to function a motorcar, and that’s not the case both,” Johnson stated. “You can’t function a motorcar within the state of Oklahoma intoxicated.”

Security issues prolong past the roadways throughout this time of yr. Johnson suggested folks to be vigilant on Black Friday.

“Thefts go up by way of the roof as a result of we’ve those that have a tendency to go away items, high-priced objects, purses, electronics of their autos,” Johnson stated. 

Along with taking bought objects out of autos, Johnson really helpful that individuals journey in teams and store through the day on Black Friday. 

Moreover, scammers have a tendency to focus on folks through the vacation season. Johnson stated anybody who’s suspicious of a proposal or risk to name the Sheriff’s Workplace at 405-713-1000.