Santa Clara County’s Avoid the 13 DUI Task Force and the California Highway Patrol announced plans to crack down on drunken driving over the Fourth of July weekend.
The CHP plans to deploy all available officers to every freeway, county road and unincorporated road in the 13 Bay Area counties from 6 p.m. Thursday, July 3, to 12 a.m. Monday, July 7.
“This Fourth of July holiday, you can show your patriotism by helping to make the roads of Santa Clara County safer for everyone,” Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said. “For everyone’s sake, don’t drink and drive or you will be targeted for arrest.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 10,000 people died nationwide in drunken-driving crashes in 2012, accounting for roughly a third of all driving-related deaths. Over the course of the Fourth of July weekend in 2012, 78 people died in alcohol-related crashes around the country — about 44 percent of crash fatalities during that period.
According to statistics from the FBI, over 1.28 million drivers were arrested in 2012 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is against the law to drive with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08 in California.
Please don’t drink and drive…know your rights. If your suspected of drinking and driving decline field sobriety test. Always be non-confrontational provide license, registration and proof of insurence when asked. If asked if you’ve been drinking decline to answer. It’s your right 5th Amendment.
Answer only questions related to documentation provided. This also applies to field sobriety check points state of California. No open containers visible grounds for probable cause. Keep your vehicle clean….If asked to step out of your vehicle comply. However, lock your vehicle. Must obtain a warrent in some cases. If asked why you locked your car? Again, politly decline questions…
“For everyone’s sake, don’t drink and drive or you will be targeted for arrest.” Don’t make yourself a police target! Laurie Smith Cost of DUI defense 15k on up not including jail time… Drink responsibly ….. Lastly, if your going to be arrest, your to be arrested. At that point blood and or urine will be required. If you don’t you may loose your license and all privileges.
Too many innocent people are being killed by reckless drivers. Please crack down hard and get them off the street.
Cities also share partial blame by designing streets for high speeds. This just encourages more recklessness. Streets in residential areas need to have slower speed limits and strict enforcement. This includes Middlefield, Embarcadero, and Alma in Palo Alto.