CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – In order to keep the roadways safe across Cibola County, area law enforcement agencies are running saturation patrols, putting a stop to drivers that may be driving intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
New Mexico State Police Lieutenant Mark Soriano said, “We are bringing awareness to these events to reduce alcohol-related fatalities through continued media attention and intensive advertising. These checkpoints are helping to change society's attitude about drinking and driving.”
The Cibola County Sheriff’s Office will be doing saturation patrols across the county as they usually do. The sheriff’s office does these patrols so regularly and with significant efficiency that they were given an award from Safer New Mexico for their efforts.
The Grants Police Department was running saturation patrols from March through September, their patrols will not end with the month however, as GPD Lieutenant Jeff Marez said the patrols will continue through all of October, saying that more information on the patrols will be available soon.
The Milan Police Department Chief Lionel Desiderio said that MPD would be doing saturation patrols across the village during the month of October. MPD did not do saturation patrols in September but made a commitment to doing them more regularly starting with the October patrols.
The New Mexico State Police will be doing saturation patrols in Cibola county starting on October 1 as part of their ENDWI campaign.
Saturation patrols will consist of roadblocks, registration/identification checks, plus seatbelt and car seat checks for children. NMSP said this is all to keep the streets safe for all drivers and their passengers.
“Hundreds of lives could be saved each year if every driver had the courage to make the right decision not to drink and drive,” said NMSP Lt. Soriano.