PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
In 1994, the city of Riverton, located in Fremont County, Wyoming ranked well below the state's "safety index", and so was characterized as having significant traffic safety issues. In addressing these issues, city officials determined that impaired driving was a major concern. During 1994, Riverton police officers made 260 arrests for DUI; the average blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for offenders was .22. Alcohol-related injury crashes in 1994 totaled 12, with 1 fatality.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Riverton Police Department initiated the Riverton Impaired Driving Program in 1995. Principal goals of the effort were to:

• Increase the number of impaired driving arrests
• Reduce the average BAC for impaired driving offenders
• Decrease the number of alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
Riverton police officials developed the Impaired Driving Program to combine increased periods of enforcement with a targeted media awareness campaign. From May to September in 1995 and 1996, city police officers conducted additional enforcement patrols each weekend. Beginning each Friday evening and continuing through Sunday morning, DUI checkpoints were set in place, and additional officers were assigned to street patrols to apprehend impaired drivers.

Concurrently, local radio stations provided on-air announcements to inform listeners on issues regarding impaired driving in Riverton, and to alert the public about increased enforcement efforts and program results. The mayor, commissioner and city council were briefed regularly on all activities associated with the Riverton Impaired Driving Program.