State police see increase in DUI arrests

(Harrisburg) — The number of DUI arrests made by state police troopers has jumped between 2014 and 2015.

According to statistics released by the law enforcement agency, driving under the influence charges rose 6.2 percent over that time span.

The State Police made 18,801 DUI arrests last year.

“What’s notable about those numbers is that nearly one-fourth were arrests based on drivers impaired by drugs, instead of alcohol,” spokesman Trooper Adam Reed said.

That’s an increase of 43 percent over 2014.

Troopers say specialized training is helping officers to more accurately identify the substance impairing drivers.

“The training is increasing for our troopers and local police officers, for that matter,” Reed says. “We have a number of certified drug recognition experts throughout the state that specialize in being able to do tests on these individuals that a trooper may pull over and suspect is under the influence of something other than alcohol.”

The most common drugs found to be the cause of impairment were marijuana, heroin, and prescription medication.