New Year's Eve DUI Enforcement
The Santa Monica Police Department's Driving While Impaired (DUI) Enforcement Team will be deploying officers on a special saturation patrol at various locations throughout the city.
The saturation patrol is an effort to make New Year’s Eve safer by cracking down on impaired driving and to improve traffic safety, save lives, and prevent injuries.
“If you drive while impaired from alcohol and/or drugs, Santa Monica Police Department officers will be looking for you,” said Sgt. Jeff Wiles. “If you are driving while impaired you will be arrested.”
The Santa Monica Police Department will be conducting the “Zero Tolerance” DUI Saturation Patrol on Friday, December 31, 2010, targeting those who still don’t heed the message to designate a sober driver before their celebrations begin.
Funding for the patrol is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Statewide, overall traffic deaths declined by 23 percent, from 3,995 in 2007 to 3,081 in 2009. Total traffic fatalities are at their lowest levels in six decades. DUI deaths have declined by 16 percent from 1,132 in 2007 to 950 in 2009. Alcohol-impaired deaths still make up the largest category of overall vehicle fatalities, with 31 percent of all deaths caused by an impaired driver.
“Everyone in California should be heartened with these declines,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). “But as encouraging as this is, we can’t let up on the efforts to encourage and support traffic safety. Please, help make your community safe; if you see a drunk driver – call 9-1-1.”
The “Zero Tolerance” DUI Saturation Patrol will deploy throughout Santa Monica on Friday night, December 31st, starting at approximately 6:00 p.m.
via Santa Monica Police Department - New Year's Eve DUI Enforcement.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 27, 2010
Contact: Jay Trisler, Sergeant
Phone: 310.458.8471
e-mail: jay.trisler@smgov.net
