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Increased accidents and crimes at Sturgis rally compared to last year

Lines of motorcycles in Sturgis at a previous rally.
Flickr
/
SDPB
Lines of motorcycles in Sturgis at a previous rally.

Several categories of accidents and crimes are up at this year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, including drug arrests, DUIs and fatalities.

There are three fatal accidents so far this year, according to a report from the Highway Patrol covering Aug. 6-11. There was one fatality at this point in the rally last year.

Law enforcement officers have made 97 DUI arrests at this year's rally, up from 84 arrests at this point last year. They have also made 86 felony drug arrests, up from 73.

Officers have seized four vehicles in Sturgis this year after seizing none at this point last year. They have also seized $4,335, almost $2,500 more than this point of the rally last year.

The Highway Patrol has issued 914 citations and 3,253 warnings so far this year.

There have been 62 non-fatal accidents and 102 misdemeanor drug arrests. Both of these numbers are slightly down.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally continues through Sunday.

Jordan is a senior English and journalism major at SDSU in Brookings. She is from De Smet, South Dakota. She is based out of the Sioux Falls studio.