Sheriff's office steps up patrols

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office will be increasing traffic enforcement during spring break week. The increased presence began Saturday, March 24, and continues through Sunday, April 1. Spring break week is expected to bring increased vehicle traffic to the Central Oregon area as families travel to and through Deschutes County on vacation.

These additional deputies will be focusing on distracted and unsafe driving behaviors utilizing marked and unmarked sheriff's office vehicles. According to the sheriff's office, members of the community have asked for more enforcement in specific driving behaviors. These behaviors include the use of cell phones while driving, following other vehicles too closely, unsafe speeds, and the use of off-road lighting on public roadways. These driving behaviors are often contributing factors to motor-vehicle crashes, the sheriff's office reports. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office responded to 22 motor-vehicle crashes during spring break week in 2017.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reports that deputies generally focus on education during traffic enforcement, with the goal of changing driving behaviors for the better.