Riverside County Law Enforcement Agencies Plan Super Crackdown
Riverside County law enforcement agencies will be teaming up today to crack down on Super Bowl fans who drink and drive.
The “Avoid the 30” task force — named for the number of participating agencies — is planning saturation patrols to snare impaired drivers before, during and after the NFL championship game, according to Riverside police Sgt. Skip Showalter, the Avoid coordinator.
“Because the Super Bowl has become somewhat of a holiday celebration for many people, we want to remind everyone to enjoy the game in a responsible manner,” said Chris Vicino, Riverside’s assistant chief of police. “Real football lovers don’t allow other fans to drive drunk.
“We are asking all party hosts and bar owners to take extra care of their family, friends, and patrons by assisting them to designate a sober driver. This way, everyone wins.”
On Super Bowl Sunday night 2010, then-Riverside police Chief Russ Leach ran a red light and crashed his city-owned vehicle, driving on the rims for several miles, while intoxicated. He resigned days later and eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI, resulting in his being sentenced to home detention and probation.
According to the California Highway Patrol, during Super Bowl Sunday 2011, 452 motorists were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on roads and highways patrolled by the agency. Two people were killed in alcohol-related crashes.
According to Showalter, saturation patrols targeting DUI suspects are planned in Beaumont, Coachella, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Riverside and Temecula.
Law enforcement officials offered the following tips to people planning to host Super Bowl parties: — Ensure guests have a designated driver or can arrange for ride-sharing; — serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the party; — stop serving alcohol before the end of the game’s third quarter; and — take the keys away from guests showing obvious signs of drunkenness and call them a cab if necessary.
The anti-DUI enforcement effort is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s and National Football League’s “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk” campaign.
