Mission Viejo Police Services’ recent roving DUI patrol night resulted in two drunk driving arrests and three drivers cited for not having valid driver’s licenses. Forty three vehicles were stopped in Mission Viejo on Feb. 10 in a proactive move to take drunk drivers and those driving without valid driver’s licenses off the streets.
Polices Services is part of the “Avoid the 12”program, an anti-DUI program launched in 1973 to bring law enforcement agencies together in countywide clusters to crack down on the drinking driver and reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by alcohol-related crashes. Funding, provided by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, allows counties to conduct public awareness campaigns during the increased enforcement periods.
The overall goal of the awareness campaign is to let drivers know about the increased enforcement periods and warn drivers that the only way to “AVOID” the county’s law enforcement officers is to drive sober. Increased enforcement periods are active statewide during the National Anti DUI Mobilization Campaigns, which are mid-December through New Years; mid-August through Labor Day weekend and during the high traffic holiday periods on Memorial Day weekend and Independence Day weekend. Additionally, Avoid Patrols deploy on nights with high incidents of DUI offenders and DUI collisions such as Halloween, Super Bowl Sunday, St Patrick’s Day and Cinco De Mayo.
Since 1974, 41 counties have joined the program bringing over 540 law enforcement agencies together to fight drunk driving on our streets and highways. Remember, you can make the difference. Always use a designated driver and as you travel, report drunk drivers by calling 9-1-1.
“Our roving DUI patrol night was a very productive evening, and it is our hope that drivers become more aware to either drive sober or have a designated driver,” said Lt. Mike Gavin, Chief of Police Services.
