Drunk and drugged driving remains the number one killer on our roadways, with 802 DUI deaths and nearly 24,000 Alcohol Involved Injuries reported statewide. The “Avoid the 15” DUI Task Force will be combating this deadly problem through DUI enforcement efforts in Sacramento County.  The Sacramento Police Department will be administering a recent $183,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety for the entire county. 

The grant activities will specifically target those who get behind the wheel after drinking too much or using drugs that impair driving.  Officers from law enforcement agencies across the county will jointly staff DUI/Driver License Checkpoints and roving DUI saturation patrols.  Additionally, funding will target the ‘worst of the worst’ repeat DUI offenders with Warrant/Probation Sweeps and Court Sting Enforcement Operations focusing on DUI offenders with suspend licenses who drive from court hearings after being ordered not to by a judge.

“California’s roadways are still among the safest in the nation,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft.  “But to meet future mobility, safety, and sustainability objectives, we must create safer roadways for all users.  The “Avoid the 16” DUI Task Force will be using these and other resources to reach the vision we all share – Toward zero deaths, every 1 counts.”

Motorists can expect to see special DUI campaigns during the winter and summer holiday periods as well as on Halloween, Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo and during local special events with identified DUI Problems.  Funding for the grant comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

Agencies participating in the ‘Avoid the 16’ taskforce include: Sacramento County Sheriffs Dept., Sacramento County Probation Dept., Citrus Heights Police Dept., Elk Grove Police Dept., Folsom Police Dept., Galt Police Dept., CHP, Rancho Cordova Police Dept., Los Rios Police Dept., Twin Rivers Police Dept., CSUS Police Dept., UC Davis Police Dept., Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, and the California State Parks.

Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Please direct any inquiries to Sergeant Chris Prince at (916) 808-6069.