Law enforcement agencies throughout Santa Clara County were busy
for most of August arresting motorists suspected of driving under
the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Law enforcement agencies throughout Santa Clara County were busy for most of August arresting motorists suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
As part of their annual DUI enforcement crackdown known as “Avoid the 13,” police from the county’s 13 law enforcement agencies arrested 439 suspects from Aug. 19 until Sept. 5, according to Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Sgt. Troy Smith.
That’s about 14 percent more arrests than the same time last year, when the agencies reported arresting 385 DUI suspects from the last half of August through Labor Day, Smith said.
The crackdown efforts included saturation patrols, DUI checkpoints and routine patrol throughout the county, Smith added. The “Avoid the 13” campaign uses federal grant funding to enhance local DUI enforcement efforts during the summer and on holidays such as Labor Day.
Also during the summer crackdown, law enforcement agencies arrested 35 suspects on DUI warrants, Smith said. That’s also higher than last year’s summer warrant tally, which was 17.
There were no DUI-related fatal traffic collisions during the summer enforcement period in Santa Clara County, Smith said. Last year, one such death was reported.
The next DUI crackdown will take place during the Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays, Smith said.
“Avoid the 13” is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
