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The winter holidays are a time of festivity, cheer and, for many partygoers, alcohol consumption. That’s why police are warning Santa Clara County residents that if you’re celebrating with alcohol this holiday season, they’ll be keeping an eye out for you on the roads.The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office warns motorists to “Drive sober or get pulled over.” From Dec. 12 to Jan. 1, law enforcement agencies throughout the county plan to increase their impaired driving enforcement due to the increase in drunk-driving accidents and fatalities at this time of year, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.Increased efforts, organized by the Avoid the 13 Task Force, include DUI/drivers license checkpoints, 38 “roving saturation patrols” and a DUI warrant and probation sweep, authorities said.These efforts include the following in Morgan Hill in Gilroy:—Dec. 12 saturation patrols by Gilroy police;—Dec. 13 saturation patrol by Gilroy police and Sheriff’s office;—Dec. 19 saturation patrols by Morgan Hill and Gilroy police;—Dec. 20 saturation patrols by sheriff and Gilroy police;—Dec. 26 saturation patrols by Gilroy police;—Dec. 27 DUI/drivers license checkpoint by sheriff;—Dec. 31 saturation patrols by Gilroy police.The facts are grim, according to the sheriff. On average, nearly one-third (31 percent) of all crash fatalities in America involve drunk driving. In December 2012, 830 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving at least one driver with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit of .08.On Christmas day 2012, the number of accidents involving at least one drunken driver jumps to 36 percent, the press release continued. Twenty-six people died in DUI-related accidents that day. For the entire year, more than 10,000 people died nationwide in DUI accidents in 2012, with 802 of those in California alone.As part of the national “Drive sober or get pulled over campaign,” law enforcement will increase their number of patrols and enforcement operations, and use local and social media to reach all drivers, the sheriff’s press release said.Authorities recommend finding ways other than driving to get home safely if you have been drinking. These include designating a sober driver ahead of time, calling a friend or family member, using public transportation or calling a taxi.If you see a vehicle on the roads that appears to be driven by an impaired motorist, call 911, authorities suggest.Avoid the 13 Task Force funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Office of Traffic Safety offers a free mobile app – DDVIP – aimed at thanking the sober designated driver with perks and free offers at area bars and restaurants.

The Charity Aid Foundation recently released their fifth annual World Giving Index, which measures more than 135 countries according to the percentages of people that donate their time and/or money to charitable causes. The United States ranked #1 (tied with Myanmar) as the most charitable country in the world. Couple that with the fact that December 2nd was Giving Tuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back, and it seems to be the right time to discuss the best way to give to the charities and causes that you believe in before the year rings out.

Emergency, public works and school officials haven’t reported any significant problems related to Thursday’s persistent and, at times, heavy rainfall, but weather people are forecasting precipitation to continue non-stop late into the night.“It’s been pretty mild so far,” Morgan Hill Police Sgt. Carson Thomas said of emergency call volumes about 4 p.m. Dec. 11. Rain has been falling non-stop in Morgan Hill since about 10 a.m.Slightly more than 1.35 inches of rain has fallen on Morgan Hill since that time, according to local weather enthusiast Chris Henry, whose rain gauge is located at his southwest Morgan Hill home.Police had not received any calls for downed power lines or any other significant storm damage, traffic accidents or other incidents.Some streets along Little Llagas Creek that tend to become submerged during heavy rains—such as LaCrosse Drive and Watsonville Road near Monterey Road—have seen light flooding, but not enough to hinder travel or cause safety concerns, Thomas said.Public works crews have been seen occasionally throughout town cleaning storm gutters or placing sandbags in areas that are prone to flooding.While the rate of rainfall has slowed considerably and is expected to remain light to moderate throughout the evening, there are still flood warnings in effect in parts of the Bay Area until 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Flash flood warnings are in place until after midnight.Motorists are still urged to drive with caution during the evening commute, police added.The City of Morgan Hill and Santa Clara Valley Water District offer three sandbag stations throughout town for residents and business owners concerned about flooding and damage. These locations are the City Corp Yard, 100 Edes Court; El Toro Fire Station, 18300 Old Monterey Road; and Depot Street near Fourth Street, in the parking lot adjacent to the railroad tracks in downtown Morgan Hill.Morgan Hill Unified School District staff said they had to reroute buses going to Ann Sobrato High School this afternoon. The buses entered and exited the school via Peebles Avenue instead of Burnett Avenue.Other minor issues reported at MHUSD facilities include standing water in the parking lot of the Loritta Bonfante Johnson Education Center on Tilton Avenue, and a large puddle on a sidewalk near Nordstrom Elementary School on East Dunne Avenue.SCVWD staff added that they have been monitoring creek levels throughout the county—including Little Llagas Creek in Morgan Hill—all day, but none have reached capacity or crested over the banks.