Arrests for drunk driving were up this holiday season but there were no alcohol-related traffic deaths in Sonoma County during the 17-day DUI crackdown that ended Sunday. Eight DUI injury collisions, injuring 10 people, were reported during the period.
Known as Avoid the 13, the effort by The CHO, Sonoma Police and County Sheriffs bagged 219 DUI offenders, up from 176 during the same period last year. There were four DUI fatal collisions in the 2008 campaign, killing four people, and 21 DUI injury collisions that injured 24 people.
For the New Years Weekend, December 31 through Jan 3, CHP reported DUI arrests were up in the Bay Area and Statewide.
Officials reported 36 traffic deaths statewide – 24 of those within CHP jurisdiction – over the holiday period, up from 30 a year ago. Of the 24 deaths, 12 were not wearing a seatbelt, according to a CHP spokesperson.
