Crime & Safety

St. Patrick's Day Weekend DUI Crackdown Planned for Lemon Grove

San Diego County Sheriff's deputies plan to set up patrol checkpoints in several communities starting Friday.

A St. Patrick's Day weekend crackdown on drivers under the influence includes a planned checkpoint starting Friday in Lemon Grove.

San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore and the AVOID the !5 DUI Task Force are urging drivers not to get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or drugs and get a safe ride home, according to a news release.

Deputies plan to set up patrol checkpoints in several San Diego County communities to be on the look out for those who do not heed that advice.  Among the cities getting a checkpoint are Lemon Grove, Chula Vista, San Diego, Imperial Beach, Poway, Encinitas, and Oceanside, authorities said. The checkpoints are part of the Sheriff's Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over safety campaign.

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Deputies and officers will conduct the patrols starting Friday at 6 p.m. through Sunday at 2 a.m.

The effort is funded with a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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More than 700 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving driving under the influence during St. Patrick's Day weekend from 2006 to 2010, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Whether you are meeting a few friends at the local pub or attending a local event or party, if alcohol is part of the festivities, make sure you designate a sober driver to get you home safely,” Gore said.

Law enforcement tips for a safe St. Patrick's Day include the following suggestions:

  • Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin and designate a sober driver.
  • Use your community’s sober ride program.
  • If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to report them ‐ Call 911!
  • If you know people who are about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Funding for the grant comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


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