Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey announced today there will be extra deputies patrolling Mercer County during the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

Deputies will be assigned to have an increased traffic visibility. Deputies will be targeting unsafe driving, use of seatbelts, distracted driving, and impaired driving. The purpose of the increased visibility is to reduce traffic crashes, and identify unsafe driving in Mercer County.

Sheriff Grey reminds citizens to never drink and drive, and encourages those who consume to have a designated driver to help keep Mercer County roadways safe.

In 2012 statewide 5 out of every 6 fatal crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend involved alcohol.

The Sheriff’s Office goal is for our citizens to be safe, and to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”.