PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release January 2, 2013
Contact: Sergeant Ken Savano, Petaluma PD, 707.778.4596 or email [email protected]
AVOID the 13 DUI Task Force
FINAL RESULTS
144 Drivers Arrested for DUI – No Fatalities
The 2012/13 Winter Holiday DUI Mobilization crackdown on drinking drivers has ended and resulted in a significant number of DUI arrests from the Sobriety Checkpoints, Special Saturation Patrols and routine patrol in the Sonoma County “Avoid the 13 ” DUI Campaign for the past 19 days.
From 12:01 AM Friday December 14th, through Midnight Tuesday January 1, 2013 officers representing 13 Sonoma County law enforcement agencies have arrested 144 individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 2011/12 163 DUI arrests occurred during the same time period. Fortunately, there were NO DEATHS attributed to a drunk driver in our area! Last year there was 1 alcohol related death during the year end campaign. There were 5 injury alcohol involved collisions injuring 6 people. Last year there were 6 injury collisions injuring 6 people.
These numbers are in comparison to last year’s totals during the holiday period. Law enforcement officials will be conducting more Avoid DUI operations throughout the county and region next during Super Bowl Sunday in February and then again for local St Patrick’s Day Festivities in March. Police, Sheriff and the CHP encourage all motorists to help law enforcement every day: Report Drunk Drivers – Call 9-1-1 anytime you encounter an impaired driver.
DUI Checkpoints, along with regularly scheduled high visibility DUI enforcement, are proven strategies with the goal of removing impaired drivers from the road and heightening awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), sobriety checkpoint programs can yield considerable cost savings: $6 for every $1 spent.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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