Law enforcement agencies throughout the Sacramento region have launched a summer campaign to crack down on impaired drivers.
The "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" anti-DUI campaign began today and will continue through the Labor Day weekend. During that period officers in various jurisdictions will conduct sobriety and driver's license checkpoints as well as roving patrols targeting motorists driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The statewide campaign, led by the California Office of Traffic Safety, is intended to heighten public awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and to deter people from driving under the influence.
Officials cite statistics that show 791 people died in California during 2010 in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider had a blood alcohol level at or above the legal limit. The 21-to-24 age group had the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.
Authorities warn that violators face jail time, loss of their driver license or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks, and an increase in insurance rates. Other financial consequences can include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work and the potential loss of a job or job prospects.
Motorists are encouraged to report suspected drunken driving by calling 911.
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