DUI Patrols Planned In Lake Elsinore This Week: What To Know

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Drive sober in and around Lake Elsinore streets or get pulled over. On Thursday, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office – Lake Elsinore Station deputies will be out on the roadways looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence (DUI).

“Impaired driving is preventable,” Deputy Kevin Keyser said. “It’s a choice. If you’ve been drinking or taken drugs that impair, make the right choice by finding a sober driver or alternate transportation to take you places.”

Whether you're drinking or using narcotics, the end result is the same, he said. "The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office – Lake Elsinore Station reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol."

Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

If you're not sure if you should get behind the wheel, chances are you shouldn't. A bad decision behind the wheel will cost you, the department warns.

Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.