Full Notification

Avoid the 17 DUI Task Force Reminds Everyone to

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Labor Day weekend is coming up. For many Americans, that means an extra day off, backyard and beach barbecues, visiting friends and family, and the unofficial end of the summer season. Unfortunately, it also means a sharp increase in drunk-driving-related fatalities. Starting August 15 and continuing through September 1, local police, sheriff and the CHP will be aggressively targeting drunk and drugged drivers as part of a nationwide effort to end impaired driving and save lives. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign will pair increased public awareness with high-visibility enforcement, resulting in fewer drunk drivers on Sacramento County roads.

The Avoid the 17 DUI Task Force will be aggressively looking for impaired drivers throughout the region with plans in place for 4 DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoints, 3 Multi-Agency Task Force Operations, 16 local roving DUI Saturation Patrols and a DUI Warrant/Probation Sweep. (**See Schedule of Operations for the 18 Day Mobilization for dates and city locations)

“It’s tragic how many people lose their lives to drunk driving,” said Police Chief Cynthia Renaud, Folsom Police Department. “If the news reported that more than 10,000 people were killed in a preventable crime spree, the American public would be outraged.”  The Avoid the 17- Sacramento County DUI Task Force will be joining the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign and will arrest anyone caught driving drunk. No tolerance, no excuses.

In 2012, there were 10,322 people killed in drunk-driving crashes in the United States. Over Labor Day weekend that year, 147 lost their lives to a drunk driver, more than a third (38 percent) of all traffic fatalities that weekend.

Out of all the crash fatalities that weekend, one in four were attributed to drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .15 percent or higher – almost twice the legal limit in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Every 51 minutes, someone is killed in a drunk-driving crash. Over the Labor Day weekend, those fatalities increase to one every 34 minutes.  Nighttime is especially dangerous; almost half (46 percent) of the fatalities in nighttime crashes over the Labor Day weekend involved a driver with a BAC of .08 or higher, compared to 25 percent in daytime fatal crashes. 

Young drivers are overrepresented in drunk-driving crashes, too. Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 killed in motor vehicle crashes during the 2012 Labor Day weekend, almost half (48 percent) had a .08 percent BAC or higher. For drivers under 21, anything above a BAC of .00 is illegal.

“Driving drunk is totally inexcusable,” said Chief Renaud. “We’re hoping that Sacramento County drivers get the message and take some simple steps to prevent a tragedy. There’s always another way home.”  Avoid the 17 DUI taskforce is reminding drivers to plan ahead and designate a sober driver before attending any events where alcohol will be served.  “Planning a sober ride home, whether it’s a friend, a taxi, or public transportation, is the right choice,” added Chief Renaud. 

This Labor Day weekend don’t let the festivities turn into fatalities. Remember that, aside from the obvious risks of killing yourself or someone else, driving impaired can also lead to serious punitive consequences. A DUI arrest can mean time in jail, loss of your license, and steep financial expenses; the average DUI can cost up to $10,000.

Avoid the 17 DUI Task Force funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who reminds everyone; Report Drunk Drivers! – Call 9-1-1.  The Office of Traffic Safety is offering a free mobile app – DDVIPCA.COM – aimed at thanking the sober designated driver with perks and free offers at area bars and restaurants.

DUI Task Force August/LABOR DAY HOliday Enforcement Schedule

The Sacramento County Avoid the 17 Task Force is announcing its upcoming enforcement operations for the Summer/Labor Day Holiday DUI Campaign.  The following schedule of operations, dates, and locations are provided for media release except the EMBAROGED activities. 

Fri, Aug 15th, DUI/DL CHECKPOINT 2000-0200 hrs, City of Citrus Heights

Fri, Aug 15th, DUI/DL CHECKPOINT 1800-0200 hrs, City of Elk Grove     

Fri, Aug 15th, DUI/DL CHECKPOINT 1900-0300 hrs, City of Rancho Cordova

Sat, Aug 16th, DUI Saturation Patrol, 1800-0200 hrs, Cities of Elk Grove and Folsom

Sat, Aug 16th, DUI Multi-Agency Task Force, 1800-0200 hrs, City of Folsom

Sat, Aug 16th, DUI/DL CHECKPOINT, 1900-0300 hrs, City of Sacramento

Sun, Aug 17th, DUI Saturation Patrol, 1800-0200 hrs, City of Elk Grove

Mon, Aug 18th, DUI Saturation Patrol, 1800-0200 hrs, City of Elk Grove

Tues, Aug 19th, DUI Saturation Patrol, 1800-0200 hrs, Cities of Elk Grove, Folsom and Sacramento

Fri, Aug 22nd, DUI Saturation Patrol, 1800-0200 hrs, Cities of Elk Grove and Folsom

Fri, Aug 22nd, DUI/DL CHECKPOINT, 1900-0300 hrs, City of Sacramento

Fri, Aug 22nd, DUI Multi-Agency Task Force, 1900-0300 hrs, City of Rancho Cordova

Sat, Aug 23th, DUI Saturation Patrol, 1800-0200 hrs, Cities of Elk Grove and Folsom

Sat, Aug 23th, DUI/DL CHECKPOINT, 1900-0300 hrs, City of Elk Grove

Sun, Aug 24^th, DUI Saturation Patrol, 1800-0200 hrs, City of Elk Grove

Mon, Aug 25^th, DUI Saturation Patrol, 1800-0200 hrs, City of Elk Grove

Fri, Aug 29^th, DUI Saturation Patrol, 1800-0200 hrs, Cities of Elk Grove and Folsom

Fri, Aug 29th, DUI Multi-Agency Task Force, 1800-0200 hrs, City of Sacramento

Sat, Aug 30th, DUI/DL CHECKPOINT 1800-0200 hrs, City of Sacramento

Sat, Aug 30th, DUI/DL CHECKPOINT 1800-0200 hrs, City of Folsom

Sat, Aug 30th, DUI Saturation Patrol, 1800-0200 hrs, Cities of Elk Grove and Folsom

Sun, Aug 31st, DUI/DL CHECKPOINT 2000-0300 hrs, City of Citrus Heights

Sun, Aug 31st, DUI Saturation Patrol, 1800-0200 hrs, City of Elk Grove

Mon, Sep 1st, DUI Saturation Patrol, 1800-0200 hrs, Cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom,  Rancho Cordova and Sacramento, as well as the unincorporated area of Sacramento County.

EMBARGOED, Warrant/Probation Sweep - Countywide

Statistical data on the number of DUI arrests and DUI fatal crashes will be released from the previous day’s activities throughout the holiday campaign.

Media Notes:  Reporters are invited to ride along with law enforcement or may join Task Force & checkpoint operations in your region throughout the Campaign by contacting the PIO contact listed above.

Funding for the “Avoid” program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.