DUI Saturation Patrols This Weekend

Officers from the Daly City Police Department, Colma Police Department, and Burlingame Police Department DUI Enforcement Team will be deploying this week to stop and arrest alcohol and drug-impaired drivers in the San Mateo County STEP program’s ongoing traffic safety campaign.

DUI Saturation Patrols will deploy on Saturday, November 16th, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. in areas with high frequencies of DUI collisions and/or arrests in North San Mateo County. 

“The San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriff Association is committed to making the streets and roadways safe for both motorists and pedestrians. These DUI saturation patrols to be conducted throughout our community will provide the exact education and enforcement needed to correct the type of dangerous behavior that puts everyone in our city at risk.” said Chief Ed Wood of the Burlingame Police Department. “This is a ‘Zero Tolerance’ crackdown so Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over!” 

In California, this deadly crime led to 774 deaths in 2011 because someone failed to designate a sober driver. Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions have claimed 19 lives and resulted in 327 injury crashes harming 424 of our friends and neighbors. In 2013 alone, DUI collisions have taken 13 lives in San Mateo County. 

DUI can impact the economy in addition to the pain and suffering of those immediately affected. Conservatively, a fatality has a $1.4 million impact, an injury $70,000, and a crash that only damages property averages nearly $9000. 

The San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriff Association will be keeping the pressure on through enforcement and public awareness so that we can continue saving lives and prevent injuries. “California’s roadways are much safer today than they were just a few years ago,” said Chief Ed Wood. 

Funding for this program is from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Report Drunk Drivers, Call 911!

(Editor's Note: This information was submitted to Patch by the Daly City Police Department.)