News headline from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department:

In conjunction with the Avoid the 30 DUI Campaign, the Palm Desert Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint on May 25th from 8:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. in Palm Desert.  In an effort to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes, DUI checkpoints are conducted to identify offenders and get them off the street, as well as educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving.

The Memorial Day weekend is the first holiday travel period of the summer season and this, coupled with many college and high school graduations, will see friends and families gathering to celebrate, often with alcohol. Law enforcement is reminding everyone to make plans now for those weekend trips and celebrations to use a ‘Designated Driver’ to avert arrest or worse, a deadly drunk driving tragedy.

The enforcement blitz begins Friday night with a number of agencies throughout the region hosting DUI/Driver’s License checkpoints and/or special DUI Saturation Patrols. Anti-DUI operations will be out on all three nights of the Memorial Day weekend statewide.

The California Highway Patrol is deploying all available officers Memorial Day weekend onto freeways and county roads in their jurisdiction in the first of six maximum enforcement periods in 2012.

“The summer months traditionally see a rise in DUI deaths and injuries,” said Chris Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “Let’s turn this trend around in 2012. Take measures to use a designated sober driver and call 9-1-1 to report a suspected drunk driver should you witness the tale-tale signs of impairment; such as weaving, crossing the center line, or a driver slow to start when the signal light turns green.”

Law enforcement region-wide are asking for everyone’s support this holiday weekend and all summer:

• Arrange rides home for your friends, family, co-workers and yourself before the drinking begins
• Servers and those hosting celebrations should limit drinks to your guests & patrons. Don’t serve more than one or two alcoholic beverages over a span of several hours.
• Identify and provide free non-alcoholic drinks to the designated driver.
• Cut back on the amount of drinks you plan to bring to the party – and provide plenty of food.
• If you see dangerous driving, report drunk drivers by calling 9-1-1

Funding for the DUI checkpoint is from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Filed under Headline

Thursday, May 24, 2012

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