DHS police to step up holiday DUI enforcement

Extra Desert Hot Springs police officers will be on the road looking for intoxicated drivers as folks begin to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Tragically, March 17 has become one of the nation’s deadliest holidays. In fact, from 2010 to 2014, almost three-fourths of the drunk-driving fatalities during this holiday period involved drivers who had blood-alcohol content well above the .08 limit, with 266 drunk-driving fatalities total nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to a release from Sgt. Daud Chang with the Desert Hot Springs Police Department, more officers will be on overtime to target problem areas with high numbers of DUI collisions and arrests. They will be looking for tell-tale signs of impaired driving such as weaving, crossing the center line, etc.

Sgt. Daud also said officers want drivers to keep an eye out for pedestrians who have had too much to drink, because walking while intoxicated can also be deadly.

This enforcement campaign is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The next special DUI campaign is set for Cinco de Mayo, officers said.

Desert Hot Springs police will also have a DUI/drivers license checkpoint on Friday, March 18 in an undisclosed area of the city between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m.

Police said you should keep the following game plan in mind:

Party Preparation: Designate a sober, reliable driver to get you home safely. Find the name of a taxi company (or two) and keep their numbers in your phone. You can also download the Designated Driver VIP app on your phone, which allows you to map a spot with your current location to find DDVIP partnering establishments in your area or a list of spots to search all participating bars and restaurants through California.

On St. Patrick’s Day: Before you take your first sip of green beer, leave your keys at home or give them to a friend. Ensure your designated driver has committed to a sober evening. If you’re the designated driver, don’t drink. Your friends are relying on you, as are the people you share the road with. Also, recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems