SHERIFF-CORONER DEPARTMENT
COUNTY OF ORANGE
CALIFORNIA
550 NORTH FLOWER STREET – P.O. BOX 449
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702-0449
(714) 647-7042
SANDRA HUTCHENS
SHERIFF-CORONER
PRESS RELEASE
Avoid the Ten, Orange County Sheriff Launches Intensive
Crackdown on Impaired Driving
Police Vow to Arrest Everyone Found Driving ‘Over the Limit’
America is facing an impaired-driving crisis and the problem is especially acute during the summer
months.
That’s why the Orange County Sheriff ‘s Department and the AVOID the 10 campaign today announced it will join other police agencies throughout the country in support of an intensive
crackdown on impaired driving this August 15 – September 1. Nationally, more than $50 million will be spent on this year’s crackdown, known by its tagline: Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.
In 2006 alone, nearly 13,500 people died in crashes in which the driver or motorcycle rider was legally impaired, according to the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Among them were 306 children under age 15 — innocent victims of crashes that could have been avoided. Alcohol Involved deaths in California reached 1,597 in 2006 with over 31,000 injured.
“All too often, innocent law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life. Because we’re committed to ending the carnage, we’re intensifying our enforcement during the crackdown. We’ll be especially vigilant during high-risk nighttime hours when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” said Sgt. Robert Osborne.
Across the country, more than $30 million in State and Federal funds will be spent in support of the high-visibility crackdown through television and radio ads targeted to young male drivers, who are the most common perpetrators of this deadly crime. Another $20 million will be spent on extra police enforcement — including saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints — during the crackdown period.
In every U.S. State as well as the District of Columbia it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. More than 10,000 police agencies will participate in this year’s mid-August through Labor Day crackdown, including law enforcement officers representing every State and many U.S. cities and towns.
According to the latest data, 32 percent of motor vehicle driving fatalities involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 g/dL or above — an average of one fatality every 39 minutes.
This summer, law enforcement is again asking for the public’s help. “Drunk driving is the top priority for the police, CHP, and sheriff deputies in California, but other motorists on the roads are one of the best weapons we have against drunk drivers,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “We’re asking the public to report drunk drivers by calling 911 and providing the location and a complete description of the vehicle.”
“With millions of cell phones on California roadways your chances of getting busted have risen,” said Murphy. “Drunk or other dangerous driving is an emergency, where we encourage other drivers to safely call in. In addition, law Enforcement will be out in force conducting sobriety checkpoints, multi-agency task force operations as well as local saturation patrols to get more drunk drivers off the road – and save lives that might otherwise be lost.”
“Our message is simple and unwavering. If we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions,” said Sergeant Osborne. “Even if you beat the odds and walk away from a DUI crash alive, motorists should be aware that the consequences of driving while impaired can still virtually destroy your life." “So don’t take the chance. Remember, if you are over the limit, you’re under arrest.”
Violators often face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, or being sentenced to use an ignition interlock. Their insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends, and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation.
The National Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown is led by NHTSA and combines high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and
publicity.
Funding for the “Avoid” program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information on the crackdown, visit the California Avoid Web Site at click here.
For traffic safety issues or concerns, visit the Orange County Sheriff Traffic Safety website at click here.