Between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, Bend Police arrested at least 12 people for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Drivers recorded blood alcohol contents ranging from 0.13 percent to 0.23 percent. One driver was arrested just before noon on Christmas Day with a 0.20 percent BAC, while another was arrested after being found unconscious in the Taco Bell drive-through on New Year’s Eve and recorded a 0.23 percent BAC. 

At least three of the DUIIs involved drug use, including inhalants and marijuana.  

Two of the arrests came after crashes, including one in which the driver fled the scene and had a BAC of 0.13 percent after the incident.  

This year, the Bend Police Department stepped up its presence in the downtown area on New Year’s Eve in an attempt to cut down on intoxicated drivers and other problems that historically have arisen on this holiday.  

In addition to having a large presence of officers in the downtown core, the Department also placed a large boom light at NW Greenwood Avenue and Hill Street to help prevent vehicle vs. pedestrian crashes.  

In an effort to educate the public about alcohol consumption and DUII, our school resource officers set up a table in downtown Bend and took between 150 and 200 breath samples of community members over the course of the evening. Participation was voluntary and designed to help community members understand their levels of intoxication.  

In 2025, Bend Police arrested more than 550 people for driving under the influence.