FAIRMONT – The New Year was sweet indeed for the Fairmont Police Department, as there were zero drunk drivers encountered during the celebratory evening and early morning.

Fairmont PD Sergeant Jaime Bleess said officers were out patrolling that night to ensure everyone was safely getting home.

“We didn’t come across a single drunk driver in town,” he said. “The bars were busy, and we like to see that. We like to see people enjoying themselves and having a good time. We saw a lot of taxis, we saw a lot of designated drivers and we saw a lot of people calling for rides to get home.”

This isn’t a one-off either, Bleess said. Overall, they have seen a decrease in drunk driving on New Year’s the past couple of years as well.

Across the whole of winter, Bleess said traffic crashes are what the PD go out to most often.

“Thankfully, in town, most of those are not injury crashes,” he said. “If they are, they’re usually minor injury crashes. That keeps us pretty busy in the wintertime. Parking lots slick, slick roads at intersections. Oftentimes, it’s the first snow after the roads have been dry for a while that can cause people to forget.”

So far, Bleess said they have been able to keep a watchful eye on Fairmont’s streets, and it has remained safe.

“Our police department is fully staffed, so we’re staying visible,” he said. “Being out there helps. By and large, this winter has felt pretty safe on the streets of Fairmont, and that’s a blessing for everybody.”

What has struck this winter is not on the physical streets, but on the information superhighway, as internet scams are plastered on the PD’s radar.

“People are home a little more in that when it’s cold out, and it seems like that’s when our scams ramp up,” Bleess said. “We want to make sure people hang up the phone, call a friend before you send somebody money. Hang up the phone, call the police department and say, ‘Hey, I think this might be a scam.'”

After a relatively relaxed past two winters, the snow that has come this year is providing Fairmont PD with an obstacle in parking issues.

“One of our roles is to help the city of Fairmont keep the streets clear so that the plows can keep the roads open, especially on emergency routes,” Bleess said. “If your car gets plowed around and left there for a day, you’ll be subject to a parking ticket. It’s a 24-hour rule. Your car is supposed to move every 24 hours if it’s parked on the street. We generally hone in on that for enforcement after it snows.”

If anyone gets suspicious of a potential crime, Bleess said the best way to get a hold of them is to call 911 for emergencies, but their local line is 507-238-4481 for non-emergencies.

“That puts you through to the dispatcher,” he said. “The dispatcher will figure out where the issue is happening and help decide appropriately which agency should be in charge of helping.”