Law enforcement agencies across Santa Clara County targeted impaired drivers during Memorial Day weekend and arrested 89 people for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to a press release from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.
The “Avoid the 13” campaign involved increased patrols May 23 through 25, by the Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol and 11 other agencies. In 2013, authorities made 73 DUI arrests during Memorial Day weekend.
A similar program is scheduled to take place during Independence Day weekend and an 18-day period in August through Labor Day, the release stated.
As summer approaches, authorities are sending a simple message: don’t drink and drive or ride with someone who has been drinking and know that extra officers will work to stop and arrest impaired drivers.
“Make sure to use a designated sober driver to prevent arrest, or worse, a deadly driving tragedy,” Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Kurtis Stenderup said in a statement.
Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a DUI and license checkpoint May 23 in Milpitas and special DUI patrols began focusing efforts on finding drunk or drugged drivers across the county. On May 24 and 25, those teams patrolled Gilroy, San Jose, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, the release stated.
Funding for the “Avoid the 13” campaign came in the form of a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Law enforcement is asking for everyone’s support this holiday weekend and all summer long:
—Plan ahead by arranging rides home for your friends, family, co-workers and yourself before the drinking begins.
—Those hosting celebrations and servers must limit drinks to your guests or patrons. Don’t serve more than one or two over several hours.
-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 non-alcoholic drinks and other freebies by visiting www.ddvipca.com
—Cut back on the amount of drinks you plan to bring to the party–and provide plenty of food.
—If you see dangerous driving, report drunk drivers by calling 9-1-1.
Source: Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Kurtis Stenderup
