"ARRIVE ALIVE" and "AVOID" GETTING ARRESTED FOR THE NEW YEAR

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY - DECEMBER 28th, 2011

All of the agencies throughout the county will be out looking for DUI drivers this weekend.  All agencies and your fellow motorists implore you to drive sober this weekend.

A DUI warrant sweep and court sting will be conducted on Dec 29th in the Santa Barbara area.

‘AVOID the 12’ and the Santa Barbara PD will be conducting a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint in the City of Santa Barbara on Friday, Dec 30th from 7pm to 3am.  Santa Maria PD will have a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint on Saturday, Dec 31st in their city.

Additional DUI patrol should be expected in all of the cities throughout the county, between ‘AVOID the 12’ funding, ‘ARRIVE ALIVE’ funding and regular patrol functions.

‘AVOID the 12’ is managed by the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office and provides all of the cities in the county additional DUI patrol.

‘ARRIVE ALIVE’ is managed by the CHP and provides additional CHP officers to conduct DUI patrols along a portion of Highway 101 and all of SR-154.

Our main goal is to further educate the driving public in the fact that driving while impaired is completely avoidable.  “There are numerous other options available these days to the person who’s had alcohol to drink and is intending to drive” said Senior Deputy Jeff Farmer.  “Whether you select a designated driver beforehand, find a sober friend to drive, or take a taxi to your destination.”

Each injury and death that is caused by an alcohol-related traffic collision is specifically preventable.  Every motorist, passenger and pedestrian on the roadway expects others to provide the same courtesy of driving sober at all times.

 Additional information about the Avoid Program and operational plans from around the region can be found at www.californiaavoid.org.  Statistical data on the number of DUI arrests and DUI fatal crashes will be released from the previous day’s activities throughout the holiday weekend.

Funding for ‘AVOID the 12’ and ‘Arrive Alive’ comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.