St. Patrick's Day DUI Patrols Planned In Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The California Highway Patrol, the Santa Rosa Police Department and the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office are among law enforcement agencies planning to be on the lookout for drunk and/or drugged drivers this St. Patrick's Day weekend in the county.

From 7 p.m. Saturday to 3 a.m. Sunday, Santa Rosa police will deploy additional officers on special DUI saturation patrols specifically to stop and arrest drivers showing signs of alcohol or drug impairment.

"Police, sheriff and the CHP will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment," Santa Rosa police stated in a news release. "When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving, which now accounts for a growing number of impaired driving crashes."

Sixty people were killed nationwide in 2016 in drunk-driving crashes over the St. Paddy’s Day holiday period — 6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18. Statewide, three people were killed and 66 were injured in DUI-related crashes over the same period last year.

"While the public makes plans to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, the California Highway Patrol is preparing to keep the roadways free of impaired drivers so that everyone can safely enjoy the festivities," CHP officials said Wednesday in a news release.

Image courtesy Santa Rosa Police Department