Riverside County To Beef Up DUI Patrols For Next 2 Weeks
RIVERSIDE (CBS) — Riverside County will be ramping up patrols beginning Friday for a two-week crackdown on motorists driving under the influence and committing other violations.
The end-of-summer "Avoid the 30" campaign -- named for the number of local police agencies involved -- will get under way at 6 p.m. Friday and continue to Sept. 5.
The effort is part of a national campaign called "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over," according to Riverside police Sgt. Skip Showalter, the Avoid coordinator.
Countywide anti-DUI operations will run concurrently with the California Highway Patrol's "Maximum Enforcement Period," set for Labor Day weekend.
During the MEP, 80 percent of the CHP's officers hit the streets to nab intoxicated motorists, speeders and other traffic violators.
"Weekend nights are particularly dangerous times for innocent victims of drunk drivers," said Riverside police Chief Sergio Diaz. "For that reason, during this operation, we will be deploying extraordinary numbers of Riverside Police Department officers. This operation is an integral part of the RPD's comprehensive strategy to make our streets and roads safer for all community members."
During last year's two-week Avoid campaign, 693 people were arrested on suspicion of DUI, compared to 517 the year before, according to figures.
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