Crackdown on Impaired Driving Intensifies

Labor Day weekend, as the unofficial end of summer, is about more than just maximizing one's sunshine intake at barbecues.

For the California Highway Patrol and local law enforcement, it's about maximizing enforcement and cracking down on impaired driving.

Since August 19, law enforcement agencies have been conducting
ongoing campaigns meant to curb drunken driving. The CHP has dubbed this period of increased vigilance as its Maximum Enforcement Program.

Statewide, CHP officers had arrested 468 drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or both, according to provisional numbers released Saturday.

The arrests represent an increase from last year's total of 436 DUI arrests for the same period, from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday.

In Marin County, law enforcement agents made one DUI arrest
stemming from 1,786 vehicle screenings at a San Rafael checkpoint Friday night. Thirteen field sobriety tests were administered at the Avoid the 13 DUI and driver's license checkpoint at the intersection of Grand Avenue and East Francisco Boulevard.

One person was arrested on an outstanding warrant, three drivers
with suspended licenses were arrested, and 15 unlicensed drivers were cited and released, according to San Rafael police spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher. Three mechanical citations and 30 moving safety violations were also issued between 6 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. at the checkpoint, she said.

In Sonoma County, two people were arrested on suspicion of driving
under the influence during a Friday night checkpoint in Santa Rosa that netted 11 other arrests for driver's license or substance-related violations.

Bay City News