Extra DUI enforcement on Halloween night
The San Luis Obispo County Avoid DUI Coalition is deploying additional officers Halloween night
Halloween is quickly approaching, which for many people means celebrating with alcohol. “As you carve your pumpkin or pick out a costume this year, keep in mind that one of the best choices you can make is to drive sober or designate a sober driver to get you home safely,” says Sergeant Caleb Davis in a statement from the Atascadero Police Department.
The Avoid the 14 DUI Task Force is reminding all drivers throughout the county that buzzed driving is drunk driving because every Halloween there are still some people who think they can drive after drinking.
“We want people to remember: like you plan to ‘Trick-or-Treat;’ make a safe plan to get home before the night begins” he says.”Before you take your first sip of alcohol on Oct. 31, figure out who your designated sober driver will be. If you wait until you’re ‘buzzed’ to make a decision, you may decide to drive.”
In 2012 alone, there were 10,322 people killed in drunk–driving crashes. Those were preventable deaths that happened when drunk drivers failed to plan ahead.
The county’s DUI Task Force is deploying extra DUI officers Halloween night to supplement routine patrol officers on one of the most deadly nights of the years. Officers will be looking for the tale-tell signs of alcohol and or drug impairment during each enforcement contact, all weekend long as many will be attending parties where alcohol is served. Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Halloween is a statistically dangerous night for drunk driving. In 2012, almost half of all crash fatalities that night involved a drunk driver.
The Avoid the 14 San Luis Obispo County DUI Task Force recommends these simple tips for a safe Halloween:
- Before the Halloween festivities begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night.
- Always designate a sober driver.
- If you are drunk, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
- Walking impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
- If you know someone who is about to drive or ride impaired, take their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements to where they are going.
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