California ranks 12th in number of DUI’s per 1,000 people

According to a recently released study, 5 drivers out of every 1,000 will get a DUI.

The study released by Smart Assest, ranks California as the 12th highest state for DUI arrests.

According to California Highway Patrol in the Santa Cruz Area, the trend for DUI’s is fairly steady. “We are kind of seeing a steady trend, last year in 2017 we had over 1,000 DUI arrest, we are pretty much right on target for 2018 as of right now we have about 750,” says CHP Officer Trista Drake.

The total number of DUI arrests for 2016 was 1,130, for 2017 1,156 and so far in 2018 there have been 754 arrests.

As for Monterey Area CHP, they are seeing a slight downward trend. Making 747 DUI arrests from January 1st – August 21st in 2016 and 651 in that same time period in 2017. This year 621 DUI arrests have been made so far.

Santa Cruz Area CHP received a grant from the state last year to crack down on impaired driving. Only two Counties in the state were awarded the grant.

The money goes to pay officers overtime who focus on looking for impaired drivers. Officer Drake says, “and just in that overtime Grant that we worked, we have arrested or made over 60 dui arrests. So it’s making a pretty big difference.”

Fatal collisions have decreased too, “we’ve seen about a 67% decrease over this past year which is huge. The number of DUI related deaths have dropped from six down to two this year,” says Officer Drake.

They have applied for the grant again this year and will know by October if they will be receiving it.

CHP wants to remind drivers that DUI’s are 100% preventable. The best way to avoid putting yourself in the situation of drinking and driving, “have a plan, if you are going out make sure you have a designated driver, have a plan in case that plan falls through so if you have a designated driver and you see that they’re drinking, call an Uber or call a taxi or someone to come pick you up.”