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CLEAR Temp: 51 °F Wind: E at 11 mph Thursday, February 6, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 26, 2003 Police ready to tackle post-Super Bowl rowdiness By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune The Oregon State Police will be out in force today, watching for drivers who have been drinking during Super Bowl celebrations. Grants from the Oregon Department of Transportation will pay for overtime to put as many troopers as possible on the roads during and after the game, police said. Troopers also will keep an eye out for motorists not wearing seatbelts and committing hazardous traffic violations. Other police agencies in the Rogue Valley aren’t planning extra patrols, but will be watching for unsafe drivers. Mothers Against Drunk Driving reports that about 60 percent of traffic fatalities on Super Bowl Sunday are alcohol-related. Last year on the day of the big game, one person died in a vehicle crash in Oregon and troopers arrested 18 people on charges of driving under the influence, according to statistics compiled by the state transportation department. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department doesn’t schedule any extra patrols on Super Bowl Sunday, but expects to see an increase in some types of calls, such as driving under the influence and assault, Capt. Joe Puckett said. "We had that assault during the playoffs last week," Puckett said. A group of men watching a game on TV and drinking got into a fight in Eagle Point Jan. 19 after police say trash-talking about the players turned ugly with racial slurs. One man was hospitalized with stab wounds and another faces second- and fourth-degree assault charges. Police departments in Medford and Ashland will be staffed as usual. Officials in both cities said they don’t anticipate any problems related to Super Bowl festivities. Phoenix Police Chief Bob Kershaw doesn’t plan to have additional officers patrolling today, but said that those on the streets will watch for impaired drivers. "There are certain times of the year people have a tendency to drink and drive more than others," Kershaw said. "Super Bowl Sunday is obviously one of those times." Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S