DUI Saturation Patrol Announced; Ridesharing Recommended July 4th Weekend

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA--It only takes one second to make a decision that will change your life forever. Do you take the keys from a friend who's had one too many? Do you dial a ride from Uber instead of driving yourself home?

When the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner speaks up, you probably should listen.

“Driving under the influence of any substance is completely preventable," The Sheriff-Coroner Sandra Hutchens, Orange County Sheriff’s Department said. "Designate a sober driver, or use a ride-share service. It’s the safest way to ensure that you and your friends and family arrive alive – don’t drink and drive.”

Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s DUI Task Force will be deploying this weekend to stop and arrest alcohol and drug-impaired drivers in the department’s ongoing traffic safety campaign.

DUI Saturation Patrols will deploy on Friday, July 1st at 7 p.m. and continue until Saturday, July 2nd at 3 a.m. in the cities of Lake Forest, Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita.

"This Fourth of July weekend, we are partnering with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Uber to make sure revelers across Orange County have access to a safe ride home," the Orange County Sheriff's Department Reported. "Again and again, we’ve seen that when people have a reliable alternative to get home safe, they choose not to drink and drive. By providing a reliable ride at the push of a button — no matter the time or place — ride-sharing is empowering people to make better, safer choices."

This holiday weekend, and at every celebration, community members are encouraged to make a plan before they start celebrating.

RIDE FOR CHEAP OR FREE WITH UBER

OC Uber riders who enter the promo code RIDESAFEOC will get their first ride free the whole weekend long! From Friday July 1 to Tuesday July 5 new users who take a trip that begins or ends in Orange County will get their ride courtesy of Uber, up to $20.

Enter the promo code RIDESAFEOC for a free first ride up to $20 anytime from Friday July 1, 2016 to Tuesday July 5, 2016. Already an Uber user? Enter the promo code OCFAIRWIN to be entered to win a prize package at the Orange County Fair – every ride counts as an entry!

“Preventing tragedy can be as simple as planning ahead for a non-drinking designated driver on the Fourth of July and year-round. Safe ride options like Uber are a critical part of the solution to prevent impaired driving crashes. We are glad that Uber is providing a safe option to the residents in Orange County this 4th of July,” said Patricia Rillera, Regional Executive Director – Southern California.

After falling dramatically for five straight years, figures for 2012 show an increase to 802 deaths because someone failed to designate a sober driver. Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions in areas contracted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department have claimed 21 lives and resulted in 497 injuries of our friends and neighbors.

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