PARIS — The Oxford County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a $10,000 grant by the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety as part of the 2015 “Drive Sober, Maine!” High Visibility Impaired Driving Enforcement Program.

This program will enable the sheriff’s office to have two to eight extra patrol details out every month from April until September this year. These saturation patrols, in conjunction with organized roadblocks, will enable the sheriff’s office to dedicate specific deputies for patrolling problem areas.

The goal is to identify and remove impaired drivers from the highways as well as serving as a deterrent to other drivers who are contemplating operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

The objective of the sheriff’s office is to educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving and reduce alcohol and drug related crashes and injuries on rural highways.