Yellowstone National Park - Yellowstone National Park Conducting Safety and Sobriety Checkpoints (U.S. National Park Service)

Date: May 2, 2007
Contact: Nash, (307) 344-2010
Contact: Vallie, (307) 344-2012

In accordance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Association's "National Impaired Driving Enforcement Crackdown," Yellowstone National Park rangers and special agents will be conducting safety and sobriety checkpoints on roads on the west side of the park, on May 3. Yellowstone law enforcement staff will be looking primarily for drivers who are impaired and for other traffic and safety violations.

In 2006, Yellowstone law enforcement rangers investigated over 550 vehicle accidents,two of which resulted in fatalities.They also made 56 arrests for driving under the influence, and filed 114 criminal cases for possession or sale of illegal drugs.

Park staff members are very committed to safety and safe driving in the park. With over 300 miles of paved roads, Yellowstone has some unique driving conditions. Visitors are reminded that federal law requires the occupants of vehicles to wear seatbelts when driving on park roads.