Super Bowl Sunday is more than the sometimes funny and watch-worthy commercials. It is more than debating if the New England Patriots already have the game rigged. For many, the day might well be a holiday along the lines of St. Patrick’s Day – this because of the amount of drinking that typically occurs. If you happen to live in California, be on the lookout for DUI patrols, the Press-Enterprise reports.
In San Bernadino County in 2017, the District Attorney’s office filed 4,379 DUI related cases. 50 of those were from Super Bowl Weekend alone. The California Highway Patrol arrested 247 people on suspicion of DUI charges over Super Bowl Sunday last year. Additionally, CHP reported that during last year’s big game 47 people were injured and one person was killed in DUI-related crashes on California roadways.
Authorities would like to remind revelers that they will be out in force to check for those who might be driving under the influence. Saturation patrols and DUI checkpoints are some of the tools in their arsenal against DUI offenders.
Authorities also want the public to know that it isn’t just alcohol that can get a person pinged with a DUI charge. Medications, either prescription or other legal or illegal drugs can also lead to DUI charges.
Those who drink are encouraged by law enforcement departments to have a game plan for how to get home. They recommend using ride-hailing services such as Uber or Lyft to get home safely. Curb is an application that will alert partiers to establishments offering free non-alcoholic beverages and other discounts to designated drivers.
