Police and deputies in Santa Clara County arrested 97 motorists on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs this weekend, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.
Those arrests were made during the three-day period from midnight Thursday to midnight Sunday night, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Jose Cardoza.
At least six of the DUI suspects were arrested by Morgan Hill police – four on Friday night, one Saturday and one Sunday, police said.
Gilroy police arrested three DUI suspects Friday night, and two Sunday night.
During the same three-day period in 2011, authorities arrested 113 DUI suspects throughout the county, Cardoza said.
The arrests were part of the annual 19-day winter holiday DUI crackdown known as “Avoid the 13.” All police departments in Santa Clara County, as well as the sheriff’s office and the California Highway Patrol are participating in the campaign, which uses state grant funds to place more officers on the streets during high-traffic holiday weekends and conduct DUI checkpoints.
More saturation patrols are scheduled over the next few days in Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Jose, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Altos and Los Gatos.
A DUI checkpoint is scheduled at an undisclosed location in Gilroy for Friday night, police said.
Motorists can report suspected drunk or impaired drivers by calling 911.
