Wrong-Way Driver Among Weekend DUI Arrests

PETALUMA, CA — Petaluma police arrested three suspected drunken drivers in less than 48 hours last week, including a 27-year-old man accused of driving the wrong way with a suspected blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit.

Police said the arrests are part of an ongoing effort to curb impaired driving and prevent serious crashes on city streets.

The first arrest happened at 12:27 a.m. Thursday, when police stopped a San Francisco man near a Valero gas station after observing his vehicle traveling the wrong way. A chemical test measured his blood alcohol concentration at more than twice California’s legal limit of 0.08%.

Two days later, at about 7:47 p.m. on Saturday, officers responded to a four-vehicle collision at Lakeville Street and Casa Grande Road. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and had two outstanding warrants.

Later that Saturday, police found a 42-year-old man sitting in a parked and running vehicle with multiple open containers of alcohol within reach, leading to his arrest.

he Petaluma Police Department urged residents to plan ahead, use alternative transportation or designated drivers, and never drive under the influence. Suspected impaired drivers can be reported to 911.