Increased DUI enforcement in Salinas through New Year’s

Salinas police will be out in full force through the end of the year looking for drivers under the influence.

On Tuesday, the department announced it will be looking for drugged and drunk drivers as part of a year-end “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement operation.

Extra patrols with specially trained officers will be deployed throughout the city, according to Sgt. Gerry Ross.

“The dangers of drunk and drugged driving are well known. There is no excuse for driving intoxicated and the Salinas Police Department will do everything we can to catch, arrest, and prosecute DUI drivers. Our goal is to keep the roads safe so everyone can enjoy the holidays free of the tragedies that often accompany DUI driving,” Ross said.

The enforcement campaign includes enforcement from police, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol with DUI checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols.

Police want to remind drivers that prescription medication, marijuana or illicit drugs can impair judgment and can also result in a DUI.

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, 32,675 people were killed in car crashes in 2014 with 9,967 of those people involved in a crash with an impaired driver.

“Driving under the influence is not only costly, but can ruin the holidays for you, your family or for someone else’s family,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “Make the decision to drive sober or use our DDVIP app to help you find a safe ride home for yourself or your friends if you know they’ve been drinking.”

Drivers are encouraged to call for a ride or make sure to assign a designated sober driver. Police said DDVIP is a free app that features bars and restaurants that are offering free incentives for the designated sober driver, from free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers. It also has a tab to use services through Uber, Lyft or Curb.