Saturation patrols and roadblocks left motorists seeing blue lights over the weekend with McMinnville officers planning to continue their crackdown throughout Labor Day.“We made a lot of traffic stops Friday night,” said McMinnville Police Lt. Mark Mara of opening night of saturated patrols in the city limits. The saturated patrols were held Friday evening in connection with highway patrol roadblocks held outside the city limits. Troopers established checkpoints just north of the city limits on Yager Road early in the night before repositioning the roadblocks to Dibrell.“We thought it would be good to have them in conjunction with the city’s saturation patrols to remind people to drive safety and not drink and drive over the Labor Day weekend,” said Sgt. Billy Prater of the THP’s one-night operation.Troopers issued 40 tickets during their roadblocks Friday.Lt. Mara said cutting down on drunk drivers is the goal of the patrols, noting they were able to catch one drunk driver thanks to the extra manpower.“We got a call about a reckless driver and thanks to having the extra officers available, we were able to find the suspect’s vehicle and make an arrest for DUI,” Mara said.
Officers look for impaired drivers