Full Notification

The Fourth of July is a favorite holiday for many Americans. For some, the celebration includes alcohol, but the fun can quickly go from festive to fatal when people decide to drink and drive.

The County-wide Avoid the 13 DUI Task Force will be out in full force July 1 through 4, aggressively targeting impaired drivers. This means every law enforcement agency in Santa Clara County is ramping up enforcement in order to make our roads safer.

DUI saturation patrols will be out across the City of Los Altos as well as in various areas throughout the County. The CHP will also deploy all available officers onto freeways and county roads for its Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP).

The Los Altos Police Department would like to remind motorists to plan a safe ride home before the celebration begins. If you drive drunk, you not only put your life and the lives of others at risk, you could face a DUI arrest. The average DUI costs $10,000, making it difficult to recover financially.

• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.
• If you’re impaired, call a taxi, a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate calling 9-1-1.
• Remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Whether you’ve had way too many or just one too many, it’s never worth the risk to drive impaired. There’s always another way home. This Fourth of July, if law enforcement pulls you over for impaired driving, you will be arrested.

Avoid the 13 DUI Task Force funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.