The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, as well as many other local agencies, will be cracking down on impaired drivers with DUI saturation patrols for the New Year’s holiday.
Deputies, in association with the California Office of Traffic Safety, will deploy to stop and arrest drunk drivers in the department’s ongoing traffic safety campaign. Deputies have received specialized training for alcohol and drug impaired drivers, which will help them identify and remove persons under the influence from our roadways.
“The Sheriff’s Office takes a proactive approach toward traffic safety in Stanislaus County. If you are pulled over and are under the influence of alcohol or drugs you will be arrested.” said Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson.
In 2012, more than 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired crashes nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That accounts for one every 51 minutes, over 800 of those died on California roadways.
Remember, it is never safe to drink and drive: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
Please follow these tips for safe driving during the holidays:
If you will be drinking do not plan on driving. Plan ahead, designate a sober driver before the party begins.
If you have been drinking do not drive. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend, family member, or use public transportation.
Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.
If you see an impaired driver on the road contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life.
To help get citizens home safely on New Year’s Eve, AAA will be conducting their Tipsy Tow program. Drivers, partygoers, etc. simply need to call 800-222-4357 for a free tow home up to 10 miles. Just tell the AAA operator, "I need a Tipsy Tow," and a truck will be on its way.
The service, which will be available from 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve until 6 a.m. on New Year’s Day, will provide a one-way ride for the driver and vehicle to the driver's home. If there are additional passengers who need a ride, they will be taken to the driver's home as long is there is sufficient room for them to be transported safely in the tow truck. You cannot make a reservation.
Residents can also call a taxi or use an app-based car ride service such as UBER, which launched in Turlock this year.
TurlockCityNews.com wishes everyone a very happy and safe New Year’s!
