Hey SoCal reports that the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has just initiated a county-wide anti-DUI campaign that began on Wednesday, December 14, and will continue until New Year’s Day.
All Riverside County sheriff’s stations will participate in the campaign, utilizing saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints, and other measures to remove drunken or drug-impaired motorists off our roads. Deputies will also be on the lookout for motorists who are not licensed to drive.
According to the announcement, deputies from Jurupa Valley, Moreno Valley, Norco, Palm Desert, Perris, Temecula, and Thermal stations will be a part of the anti-DUI campaign.
The California Highway Patrol has also announced its intention to increase patrols through the holiday season.
The campaign is a part of a nationwide initiative by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. The NHTSA reports that 11,654 people died in motor vehicle crashes that involved an intoxicated driver in 2020. The federal agency estimates that year one person was killed in alcohol or drug-related crashes every 45 minutes.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Jonathan Kehrier told reporters, “The holidays are a special time of year for many, and we want drivers to act responsibly.”
The Riverside County Sheriff also reminds motorists that intoxication is not just from alcohol but also marijuana. Some prescription and even over-the-counter drugs can also cause a motorist to become impaired.
