Petaluma Police Launch DUI Crackdown For Holidays

PETALUMA, CA — Beginning Friday, Dec. 15, the Petaluma Police Department will be out in force searching for impaired drivers. The crackdown, which involves DUI saturation patrol operations, will continue through the holidays until Jan. 1.

“This holiday season, drivers will notice increased enforcement watching closely for anyone who is driving impaired,” said Petaluma Police Department Special Operations Lt. Tim Lyons. “It is vital that we keep our roads and our traveler’s safe, not just at the holidays, but every day. With extra travelers on the roads, and people attending holiday parties, we will likely see an uptick in drunk driving. We’ll be arresting anyone we catch breaking this life-saving law.”

As part of an 18-day holiday enforcement campaign period, local police agencies, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol will be deploying DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols throughout the region. The effort is being funded through grants from California Office of Traffic Safety and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Drivers are encouraged to download the Designated Driver VIP, or “DDVIP,” free mobile app for Android or iPhone.

“Two simple words can keep your holiday festivities safe – plan ahead,” said California OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “Before you head out to any celebration, plan how you are getting home safely. If you are drinking, that means knowing what sober driver or service will be using.”

Nationally in 2016, 37,461 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes, and 28 percent (10,497) died in crashes where a driver had a blood-alcohol concentration over the limit of .08. California reported 1,059 DUI deaths at .08 or above.

Authorities also say that in recent years, California has seen an increase in drug-impaired driving crashes.

The Petaluma Police Department says it supports the new effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Those who take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Authorities say marijuana use can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

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