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There were 45 arrests on suspicion of DUI on St. Patrick’s Day in Orange County.
Law enforcement officers patrolled Orange County streets and highways. There were DUI checkpoints and roving patrols. The increase of patrols was a part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. This campaign is part of the Avoid the 38 DUI task force’s crackdown on drunken driving.
The Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, and local police officers all stepped up patrols for the holiday. During last year’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend, there were 64 people arrested in Orange County on suspicion of DUI. The California Highway Patrol made over 300 arrests last St. Patrick’s Day weekend. This year’s number only accounts for the arrests made on St. Patrick’s Day because it was a Sunday.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were more than 700 deaths, from 2006 to 2010, during the St. Patrick’s weekend.
Thankfully, there have not been any DUI related deaths reported. If you encounter a drunk driver, stay calm. Drunk drivers are very dangerous and unpredictable on the road. Drunk drivers tend to weave in and out of lanes. Stay as far away from the drunk driver as possible.
Do not try to pass the vehicle, or signal the driver to pull over. The driver may collide into you. Safely take down the driver’s license plate number. Take a note of the make, model, and color of the vehicle. Note any important cross streets or landmarks in the area. Do this safely. You do not want to hurt yourself while trying to obtain this information.
When safe, pull over. Call 911. Give the operator the location of the vehicle, including any cross streets or roads. The operator will also need to know the direction the vehicle was traveling. State the complete description of the vehicle. It is also helpful to describe how the vehicle is being driven. Leave the rest up to the authorities. Carefully get back on the road.
Drunken driving is a serious issue. Alcohol impairs reaction time and visibility. Do not let your friends drive impaired. It is best to just call a taxi or have a designated driver.
Drunken driving related accidents are incredibly horrific. Emotional and physical damage from these accidents lasts for quite some time. If you are ever involved a drunken driver related car accident, contact an Orange County car accident lawyer.
