Multiple States Increase Halloween DUI Patrols

Law enforcement in several states is increasing Halloween patrols to deter impaired driving and dangerous pranks, and officials are urging the public to report suspected impaired drivers. In Idaho, the Treasure Valley DUI Task Force—created in October 2024 and partnered with local police and sheriff’s offices—has made 325 DUI arrests and will run holiday patrols amid a reported 27% rise in alcohol-impaired driving and a 46% increase in impaired-driving deaths since 2019. New York State Police Troop T will run its 49th annual Pumpkin Patrol Oct. 30–31, using volunteers from CB and amateur radio clubs to monitor Thruway bridges and overpasses for hazardous prank activity and rapidly alert troopers. The California Highway Patrol will mount a 12-hour Maximum Enforcement Period from 6 p.m. Oct. 31 to 6 a.m. Nov. 1, deploying all available officers statewide after last year’s Halloween MEP produced nearly 500 crash investigations (about 90 involving impairment), nearly 120 DUI arrests and two fatalities. Authorities across states stress that DUI includes impairment from alcohol, prescription and over-the-counter drugs and cannabis, urge arranging sober rides, and remind witnesses to call 911 to report suspected impaired drivers.