`Saturation patrols' planned in Oregon Country Fair area this weekend.Byline: Bill Bishop The Register-Guard Like moths drawn to a light on a midsummer night Noun 1. Midsummer Night - the night before Midsummer Day June 23, Midsummer Eve, St John's Eve, St John's Night day - a day assigned to a particular purpose or observance; "Mother's Day" June - the month following May and preceding July , traffic patrols will encircle en·cir·cle tr.v. en·cir·cled, en·cir·cling, en·cir·cles 1. To form a circle around; surround. See Synonyms at surround. 2. To move or go around completely; make a circuit of. the Oregon Country Fair The Oregon Country Fair (OCF) is a three-day fair that takes place yearly beginning on the Friday of the second weekend in July in Veneta, Oregon, approximately 15 miles west of Eugene, with an attendance of approximately 45,000 over the three day period, with attendance peaking this weekend. It is not because they have anything against the tie-dyed tribes of patchouli-scented visitors. Rather, it is because their job is to keep the happy hordes safe from, well, unsafe drivers. "The intent of this saturation patrol is to provide an increased presence to deal with DUII DUII Driving (while) Under the Influence of Intoxicants drivers and to address traffic safety issues," Lane County Sheriff's Sgt. Fred Swank said. "Saturation patrols have proven to reduce traffic collisions. Additionally, the high visibility of traffic enforcement in a focused area is a proven technique for deterring criminal activity." The increased patrol will focus on county roads and state highways in the Veneta, Walton, Elmira and Cheshire areas from today through Sunday. Deputies and state troopers will be on the watch for underage drinking, drunken driving, motorists with open alcohol containers, failure to use safety belts, and other traffic violations, Swank said. An Oregon Department of Transportation grant covers the patrol cost. Swank said the Oregon Country Fair traditionally clogs traffic along Highway 126 to the Oregon Coast, and puts heavy traffic on Highway 36, Territorial Highway and Suttle Road in the Elmira area. He advises motorists to expect traffic delays and increased pedestrian traffic around the fair site west of Veneta. Lane County traffic patrol officers take their jobs seriously because ODOT ODOT Oregon Department of Transportation ODOT Ohio Department Of Transportation ODOT Oklahoma Department of Transportation data shows that 372 people died and 1,720 suffered serious injuries in traffic crashes in Lane County from 1999 through 2006. "These deaths and injuries rank Lane County among the top five counties in Oregon List of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Oregon counties are also listed in order of per-capita income. Oregon's postal abbreviation is OR and its FIPS state code is 41. for traffic collision deaths," Swank said. |
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