Law enforcement agencies all over Santa Clara County wrapped up
the winter holiday season’s enhanced DUI enforcement period Sunday,
arresting 514 people on suspicion of driving under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.
Law enforcement agencies all over Santa Clara County wrapped up the winter holiday season’s enhanced DUI enforcement period Sunday, arresting 514 people on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The arrests were made by officers representing 14 county law enforcement agencies, from Dec. 17 to Jan. 2, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Rick Sung said.
During the same time period in 2009, authorities arrested 600 people on suspicion of impaired driving.
No DUI-related traffic fatalities have been reported in Santa Clara County so far this winter, Sung said. During the same 2.5-week winter holiday period last year, 36 people in California were killed in crashes involving impaired drivers, and 1,168 motorists and passengers were injured.
Law enforcement agencies amp up their DUI and traffic enforcement during times of heavy traffic and heavy drinking through the annual “Avoid the 13” campaign. The enforcement efforts are funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Sung said. The Avoid the 13 campaign will continue on future dates when high impaired driving traffic is anticipated this year.
