Memorial Day Weekend DUI Crackdown

The Avoid the 13 DUI Campaign will be deploying officers this holiday weekend at DUI/drivers license checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols countywide to arrest impaired drivers who still don’t get the message.  

The Memorial Day weekend is the first holiday travel period of the summer season and this, coupled with many college and high school graduations, will see friends and families gathering to celebrate, often with alcohol. Law enforcement is reminding everyone to make plans now for those weekend trips and celebrations by using a designated driver to avert arrest or a deadly, drunk-driving tragedy.

The enforcement blitz begins Friday night the 25th, with DUI/drivers license checkpoints in the city of Cupertino. Local DUI saturation patrols will be out on Saturday and Sunday nights in the cities of Gilroy, San Jose, Milpitas, Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Altos Hills, and Los Gatos. The California Highway Patrol is deploying all available officers Memorial Day weekend onto freeways and county roads in their jurisdiction.

“The summer months traditionally see a rise in DUI deaths and injuries,” said Chris Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety.  “Let’s turn this trend around in 2012.  Take measures to use a designated sober driver and call 9-1-1 to report a suspected drunk driver should you witness the tale-tale signs of impairment; such as weaving, crossing the center line, or a driver slow to start when the signal light turns green.”

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

• Arrange 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 Driver
• 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 – Call 9-1-1!

Funding for the Avoid DUI Campaign is through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  The Avoid Campaign will deploy checkpoints and DUI patrols again during the Independence Day Holiday and for the summer August/Labor Day DUI Mobilization.

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