The July 4 holiday weekend resulted in 94 people arrested
throughout Santa Clara County on suspicion of driving under the
influence of alcohol or drugs, police said.
The July 4 holiday weekend resulted in 94 people arrested throughout Santa Clara County on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, police said.
During the four-day weekend, from Friday night to Sunday night, 15 law enforcement agencies in the county, including Morgan Hill police, participated in the annual “Avoid the 13” holiday crackdown on impaired driving, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Sgt. Rick Sung said.
During the same holiday weekend in 2009, police throughout the county arrested 95 people on suspicion of driving under the influence. This year and last year, no DUI-related fatal traffic collisions were reported on local roads, Sung said.
The Avoid the 13 campaign is funded annually by a grant form the state Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The program places extra officers on the roads and allows local departments to conduct DUI checkpoints during holidays that generate high traffic, including winter holidays, Cinco de Mayo and the Super Bowl.
The next Avoid the 13 crackdown will take place during an 18-day period in late August and early September.
“In recognition that summer season is among the deadliest time of the year, law enforcement agencies throughout the county will be making every effort to arrest drunk drivers before another life is lost,” Sung said.
