Sentinel staff report–
Citing a seasonal uptick in drunk driving incidents during the holidays, Citrus Heights police announced the deployment of additional patrol units to ramp up DUI enforcement through Thanksgiving weekend.
“The holidays are a time to enjoy the company of family and friends, but also a time to be extra careful on the roads,” said Citrus Heights Police Traffic Sgt. Shaun Gualco, in a Wednesday news release. “Sadly, the holiday season leads to an increase in drivers who shouldn’t be driving. It’s important for us to let people know that if you feel different, you drive different.”
Q&A: Why do police announce DUI checkpoints in advance?
Police said during the 2017 Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, from Nov. 22-26 and Dec. 22-25, a total of 99 people were killed and nearly 4, 500 people were injured on California roadways. Alcohol was reportedly involved in nearly 35 percent of the collisions where a fatality occurred.
Funding for the department’s holiday season enforcement is provided by a California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) grant, through the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration.
