Police To Bolster Staffing Thanksgiving Week Amid DUI Concerns

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Police are encouraging drivers to think twice before hopping in the car after a few drinks this week. During Thanksgiving week the San Rafael Police Department will deploy extra officers who will be on the lookout for those driving under the influence.

Through Nov. 25-29, officers will be "actively looking" for those who are speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, distracted while driving or anyone who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The department is also partnering with U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to boycott "Blackout Wednesday," a trend that encourages those gathering the night before Thanksgiving that encourages heavy drinking.

Drunk-driving-related crashes tend to spike during the Thanksgiving holiday season, according to the SRPD. And from 2014 to 2018, 138 drivers involved in fatal crashes on Thanksgiving Eve, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., were alcohol-impaired, and over the entire holiday period more than 800 people died in alcohol-related crashes, according to NHTSA.

During the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday period, more than three times as many drivers involved in fatal crashes were alcohol-impaired during the evening hours than during the day, the agency added.

"We want everyone to enjoy the holidays and be safe when they must travel," said San Rafael Police Captain Glenn McElderry in a statement. "Taking simple safety measures like driving sober, following the speed limit and wearing a seat belt helps keep yourself and others safe."

Officers warned that a "DUI doesn't just mean booze," as drivers should not get in the car after injesting certain prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs or smoking marijuana.

Funding for the extra staffing comes from a grant provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety.

Anyone who would like to report a driver under the influence can call San Rafael police at 415-485-3000. Tips can be submitted online here.