AVOID THE 12 WARNS HOLIDAY TIPPLERS: FLASHING LIGHTS BEHIND YOUR CAR? NOT SANTA’S SLEIGH

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY- DECEMBER 23rd, 2009

43 DUI SUSPECTS ARRESTED SO FAR DURING 17 DAY CAMPAIGN

 
 Drive drunk in Santa Barbara County over the Christmas weekend, and the flashing lights behind your car won’t be from Santa’s sleigh.


That’s the warning from Avoid the 12, now six days into a 17-day crackdown that ends Jan. 3. Officers and deputies have arrested 43 DUI suspects, said Deputy Win Smith of the county Sheriff’s Department.


Avoid the 12 receives its funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


The Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and Buellton offices of the California Highway Patrol will assign nearly all their offices to patrol the freeways from Christmas Eve through Sunday, Dec. 27, said Sgt. Ben Ruth of the Santa Maria squad.


“You’ll see a black-and-white CHP patrol car everywhere you look on the freeway,” he commented. “We’re all very well trained in DUI enforcement,” he remarked.