2007 December DUI Crackdown - Grantee Information
Press Room
General Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2007
(916) 262-2975
Tom Marshall, CHP
(916) 657-7202
STATE GEARS UP FOR HOLIDAY DUI CRACKDOWN
Call 911 to Report Drunk Drivers
Sacramento, Calif. — In a collaborative effort to save lives, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), California Highway Patrol (CHP), Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are working together to prevent impaired driving this holiday season. More than 480 law enforcement agencies throughout California, including the CHP, are preparing for a DUI crackdown in 41counties. The statewide effort will include a significant increase in officers on the streets in the form of saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints.
This year law enforcement is asking for the public’s help. “Drunk driving is the top priority for the California Highway Patrol and other motorists on the roads are one of the best weapons we have against drunk drivers,” said CHP Commissioner Mike Brown. “We’re asking the public to report drunk drivers by calling 911 and providing the location and a complete description of the vehicle. This will help us know who we’re looking for and where to look.”
In 2006, 1,597 people were killed and 31,099 were injured in alcohol-related crashes in California, compared to 1,574 fatalities and 30,810 injuries in 2005.
“The increase in impaired driving fatalities in California has been a serious concern for the past eight years, bringing the issue to the forefront of traffic safety priorities for California,” said OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy. “To make an even greater impact, we’re asking for citizens throughout the state to serve as an extra set of eyes. Knowing that the public is also on the lookout for drunk drivers is a powerful deterrent.”
According to NHTSA, the following clues are ways to distinguish between drunk and sober drivers:
- Appearing to be drunk
- Turning with a wide radius
- Straddling the center of the road or lane marker
- Almost striking an object or another vehicle
- Weaving and zigzagging across the road
- Turning abruptly or illegally
- Driving slower than 10 mph below the speed limit
- Following others too closely
- Drifting or moving in a straight line at an angle and erratic braking
- Driving into opposing or crossing traffic
- Driving with headlights off
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Editors’ note: To schedule an interview regarding impaired driving efforts and programs in California please contact Chris Cochran at (916) 262-2975 or via email at ccochran@ots.ca.gov.