Crime & Safety

Memorial Weekend DUI Crackdown Underway

The Avoid the 25 anti-DUI task force is deploying officers this holiday weekend at DUI/drivers license checkpoints and anti-DUI saturation patrols countywide to stop and arrest drunk or drugged drivers and to heighten awareness of the deadly combination that alcohol, drugs, and driving can have on this first holiday weekend of the summer season.

Along with warm weather and the start of the summer, it’s also the season for college and high school graduations.

With so many reasons for celebrations, law enforcement is sending two messages:
  
1) Don’t drink and drive or ride with someone who has been drinking;
2) Extra officers will be working to stop and arrest those who drive impaired.

The start of the summer season on this thee-day holiday weekend will find law enforcement reminding everyone to make plans now for those weekend trips and celebrations.

Make sure to use a ‘Designated Sober Driver’ to prevent arrest or worse, a deadly driving tragedy.

The crackdown kicks off tonight -- Friday, May 23.

There will be countywide anti-DUI saturation patrols throughout the holiday weekend and on Sunday, May 25, a DUI/drivers license checkpoint will be held in the city of Oakley at 5 p.m. at the intersection of Mercedes Lane and Laurel Road.

In addition, the California Highway Patrol is deploying all available officers onto freeways and county roads as part of its Maximum Enforcement Period this weekend.

Law enforcement region-wide is asking for everyone’s support this holiday weekend and all summer long:

  • Plan ahead; arrange rides home for friends, family, co-workers and yourself before the drinking begins.
  • Those hosting celebrations and servers must limit the number of drinks provided to your guests or patrons; don’t serve more than one or two drinks over several hours. Provide plenty of food.
  • Identify and provide free non-alcoholic drinks to the Designated Sober Driver. For tasty drink recipes, visit the DDrink Mixology Center at www.facebook.com/CaliforniaOTS.
  • If you are the Designated Driver, download the special Smartphone app that makes you the VIP, with free nonalcoholic drinks and other freebies – www.ddvipca.com.
  • If you see dangerous driving, Report Drunk Drivers – Call 9-1-1.
In addition to the Memorial Day DUI crackdown, law enforcement nationwide is looking to stop and ticket those who have failed to buckle up or secure young passengers. Remember: Click It or Ticket!

[Previous: 'Click-It or Ticket' Seat Belt Enforcement Going On Now.]

Funding for the Avoid anti-DUI task force is by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Avoid task force will deploy checkpoints and anti-DUI patrols next duringthe Independence Day Holiday and for the summer August/Labor Day anti-DUI Mobilization.


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