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Weekend DUII arrests rise in Jackson County But Medford, Ashland report fewer arrests Medford and Ashland police reported fewer arrests for drunken driving, but Oregon State Police reported more in Jackson County, during the long New Year's weekend. But Medford police are likely to set a record for drunken driving arrests in the year that ended Friday. The total is expected to top 600. State police reported that of a near-record 140 arrests statewide between Thursday and Sunday, 22 of them occurred in seven counties in Southern Oregon. Lt. Terry Simons in the Central Point office said 11 of them were in Jackson County. For a comparable but shorter period a year ago, Oregon State Police arrested 11 in the region, three of them in Jackson County. The near-record number of drunken-driving arrests statewide for a New Year's weekend does not apply to Medford or Ashland. Medford police reported four arrests between 1 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Sunday. "We usually have twice that number on a normal weekend," Lt. Tim George said. Ashland police reported two arrests on New Year's Eve and Day. "That number is probably average, nothing exceptional," Capt. Lisa Brooks said. A year ago Medford reported two such arrests and Ashland none. Both agencies reported fewer cars on the road, even as they deployed more patrols than usual this year. George also said widespread publicity helped deter drunken drivers during New Year's. "The public seemed to take the message well -- that if they drank, they had someone else drive," he said. George said the number of drunken-driving arrests by Medford police in 1999 is likely to set a record. The city number through November was at 583, compared with 541 in 1998 and a record 623 in 1997. Arrests average 50 or 60 a month. "I think there is plenty of work to be done in prevention of drunken driving," he said. "We are going to continue to be vigilant out there." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA