January 10, 2008 (San Diego) — This holiday season, arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) shot up 15% countywide. Whether more people engaged in holiday merrymaking or drowning their sorrows amid a bleak economy remains unknown, but Sheriff’s credit increased enforcement action with the spike in drunk driving busts.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is currently administering a million dollar grant from the state Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for aggressive DUI enforcement.
The Winter Mobilization Period began on December 12, 2008 and ended on January 5, 2009. During this period, DUI arrests county-wide increased 15% compared to 2007 and 18% compared to 2006. The increase is the result of aggressive DUI saturation patrols, checkpoints and individual department efforts.
In addition to the 15% increase in DUI arrests, there was a 71% increase in DUI arrests the weekend before Christmas, 2008, compared with the weekend before Christmas in 2007. There was a slight (3%) decrease in DUI arrests this New Years Eve compared with 2007.
The Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney and other law enforcement agencies will continue to aggressively enforce DUI violations. Despite the misconception, DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols will continue throughout the year.
| Arrests | ||||
| Winter Mobilization Period 2008 | 664 | difference from 2008 | ||
| Winter Mobilization Period 2007 | 559 | 85 | 15% | increase over 2007 |
| Winter Mobilization Period 2006 | 545 | 99 | 18% | increase over 2006 |
| Weekend before Christmas 2008 | 135 | difference from 2008 | ||
| Weekend before Christmas 2007 | 79 | 56 | 71% | increase over 2007 |
| Weekend before Christmas 2006 | 107 | 28 | 26% | increase over 2006 |
| New Years Eve 2008 | 61 | difference from 2008 | ||
| New Years Eve 2007 | 63 | -2 | -3% | decrease over 2007 |
| New Years Eve 2006 | 61 | 0 | zero increase over 2006 | |