Troopers Arrest 16 Impaired Drivers to Kick Off ‘100 Days of Summer’

The summer travel season is officially underway, and the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) is reminding motorists to buckle up and put the phone down to help keep the roads safe.

“Plenty of people are eager to hit the road for summer vacations,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “As the road trips begin, every motorist has a part to play in keeping Nebraska roads safe.”

Memorial Day Weekend marked the start of NSP’s annual “100 Days of Summer” initiative. From Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, troopers across Nebraska will be working special enforcement and education campaigns in an effort to reduce serious injury or fatality crashes. Those efforts may include enforcement campaigns related to exhibition speeding, impaired driving, recreation area safety, community outreach and more.

Over Memorial Day Weekend, troopers arrested 16 drivers for impairing driving, issued 297 citations for speeding, and responded to several crashes.

“No matter how far you’re traveling this summer, please do so safely,” said Colonel Bolduc. “Buckle up, put the phone down, watch your speed, and never drive impaired.”

Troopers continue with the annual, summer “Click It or Ticket” campaign this week. The campaign, which is a national partnership of law enforcement agencies, runs from May 24 through June 6.

NSP Reminds Truckers of State, Federal COVID-19 Exemption Changes

With the end of COVID-19 executive orders in the state of Nebraska, the Nebraska State Patrol is reminding owners and operators of commercial trucking vehicles of the status of state and federal exemptions.

“The trucking industry has been immeasurably vital during the pandemic,” said Captain Dan Doggett, Commander of the NSP Carrier Enforcement Division. “From hauling PPE, to cleaning supplies, to food, and eventually vaccine shipments, our partners in the trucking industry have been a big part of getting through the pandemic.”

This week, Governor Pete Ricketts issued a rescission of several executive orders that had been part of Nebraska’s response to the pandemic. With that rescission, Nebraska State Statutes related to the trucking industry, such as weight regulations, are now back in effect. The Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement Division will be working cooperatively with the trucking industry and drivers during the transitional period.

While Nebraska regulations come back into place, emergency measures authorized by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration remain. The FMCSA Emergency Declaration exemption is limited to:

• Livestock and livestock feed
• Medical supplies and equipment related to testing, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19
• Vaccines, constituent products, and medical supplies and equipment including ancillary supplies/kits for the administration of vaccines, related to the prevention of COVID-19
• Supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19, such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap, and disinfectants
• Food, paper products, and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores.

According to the FMCSA order, the exemption does not include non-emergency transportation of any of the goods listed above. Find more details on the FMCSA exemption here.

Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa Troopers Team Up for Memorial Day

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol, Iowa State Patrol, and South Dakota Highway Patrol will be working together in the tri-state region during Memorial Day Weekend.

“We’ve developed great relationships with our law enforcement partners in our neighboring states,” said Captain Dain Hicks, Commander of Troop B, which covers northeast Nebraska. “This effort is a continuation of that partnership to encourage and maintain safe travel conditions for motorists in all three states.”

The effort includes high visibility patrols on the busiest highways in the region, including Highway 20 and Highway 81 in Nebraska. Nebraska State Troopers will also focus on impaired driving enforcement in several counties in northeast Nebraska, perform vehicle checks near multiple state recreation areas, and work with Nebraska Game and Parks Officers to ensure the safety of those enjoying Nebraska’s state parks. Troopers in South Dakota and Iowa will be performing similar traffic enforcement efforts in their respective states.

The effort coincides with one of the highest-volume travel weekends of the year, Memorial Day Weekend, which marks the unofficial start to the summer travel season. Troopers throughout Nebraska are participating in the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign, which runs from May 24 through June 6.