News release from the Coos Co. Sheriff’s Office. July 2014 looks to be a very active time on the Southern Oregon Coast this year. Many events are planned in and around the Bay Area in July, beginning with the 4th of July activities. This iconic American holiday is one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to drunk-driving crashes. According to data from NHTSA, during July 4th holidays over the last five years (from 2007 to 2011), 780 people lost their lives in crashes involving drivers with a BAC of .08 or more. These fatalities account for 40% of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities over this same five-year period. Beginning with this July 4th Holiday and at selected times throughout the other activities scheduled on the Southern Oregon Coast in July, (i.e. North Bend’s July Jubilee, the Coos County Fair and the Cape Blanco Country Music Festival), members from the Southern Oregon DUII Taskforce will be patrolling the highways in Coos, Curry, and Western Lane Counties looking for the intoxicated driver. The Southern Oregon DUII Taskforce is made up of members from law enforcement agencies up and down the coast including Coos Bay Police Department, Coquille Police Department, North Bend Police Department, Florence Police Department and the Coos County Sheriff’s Office.
