Utah sees 15% DUI arrest reduction for St. Pat's Day

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Utah Highway Patrol troopers used more than 100 overtime shifts to crack down on DUI and impaired drivers over the St. Patrick's Day weekend.

UHP troopers arrested 63 drivers for DUI and wrote 43 citations for other alcohol violations, according to a UHP news release.

Troopers also made a total of 3,662 traffic stops, 1,527 of which were for speeding.

They investigated 135 crashes, including two fatalities.

The enforcement was done statewide, along with partnership agencies that provided DUI checkpoints to ensure that people would not drink and drive.

This year's arrest numbers were 15 percent fewer than last year's.

"Hopefully the message is getting out that drinking and driving is a dangerous choice when you can get a little drunk but be in a whole lot of trouble," the UHP news release said.

Utah saw no DUI related fatalities over the weekend this year.