Police reported at least 60 motorists were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the three-day Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The numbers were reported from 13 law enforcement agencies throughout Santa Clara County, from 12:01 a.m. July 3 through midnight July 5, according to a press release from Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Sgt. James Jensen.
That number is up from 45 arrests over the same holiday in 2014, the press release noted. However, last year’s arrests were reported over a four-day law enforcement crackdown rather than the three-day campaign waged this month.
Local law enforcement agencies heighten their enforcement of DUI violations during high-traffic holiday periods such as Independence Day, in an ongoing campaign known as “Avoid the 13.”
The next major Avoid DUI campaign will take place for the 18-day summer enforcement period starting in August and ending Labor Day weekend, police said.
Enhanced enforcement efforts include extra officers on patrol as well as DUI and driver’s license checkpoints, authorities said.
Funding for the Avoid the 13 comes from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
