While Utahns celebrated the New Year Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, Utah Highway Patrol troopers were out making sure no one was drinking and driving.
Dozens of troopers took part in the annual New Year's saturation patrol. Utah Jazz CEO Greg Miller was also there-- he donated a $5,000 check to UHP to help cover overtime costs.
After meeting, troopers fanned out all across the state looking for impaired drivers. During the blitz, officers made 190 traffic stops, and arrested 21 suspected DUI drivers.
Troopers said thanks to the saturation patrols, every year more people seem to get the message that if you choose to drink, don't drive.
"It's a whole lot better to go home with a friend, or a taxi or a designated driver than to ride in the back of a patrol car," said UHP Superintendent Daniel Fuhr. "Eighty percent of the DUI drivers out there either kill themselves or passengers in their vehicles, so if you really think about it, we're out here tonight to save the people who are risking their own lives."
Besides the nearly 200 stops and 21 DUI arrests, troopers also busted several people for underage drinking and responded to a couple of minor vehicle accidents.
