2007 December DUI Crackdown - Grantee Information
Press Room
Radio 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. — Local law enforcement agencies throughout California, including the California Highway Patrol (CHP), are preparing for a holiday DUI crackdown later this month that will include saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints up and down the state. The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is also asking for the public’s help to call 911 and report drunk drivers.
“We’re appealing to citizens throughout the state to serve as an extra set of eyes to spot drunk drivers,” said OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy. “How many times have you seen a car driving erratically and thought the driver could be drunk? Please follow your instinct and call 911. One call could save a life.”
Callers should be prepared to report the exact location of the vehicle along with the make, model and, if possible, license plate number. Under no circumstances should the public make an attempt or stop the vehicle or interact with the driver.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the following clues are ways to distinguish between drunk and sober drivers:
- Almost striking an object or another vehicle or weaving or zigzagging across the road
- Following others too closely, drifting or moving in a straight line at an angle and erratic braking
- Driving too slowly or suddenly swerving
- Turning with a wide radius or straddling the center of the road or lane market
- Turning abruptly or illegally or driving slower than 10 mph below the speed limit
- Driving into opposing or crossing traffic, or 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.