Every year Americans head out on our nation’s highways to celebrate the Fourth of July at picnics, parties, parades and more. Unfortunately for many, the celebration frequently includes drinking alcohol, which too often leads to drunk driving on one of the most heavily traveled holidays of the year.

From 2010-2014, 39 percent of all traffic fatalities over the Fourth of July period occurred in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. There were 397 people killed nationally in motor vehicle crashes in 2014 over the Fourth of July holiday. Of those fatalities, 41 percent were killed in crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. In California during the holiday, an average of 6 people are killed and 110 are seriously injured each year.

To crack down on drunk driving this Fourth of July, the Avoid the 13 DUI task force will be out in full force, aggressively targeting those who put lives in danger.

• 2 DUI Saturation patrols will deploy on Friday and Saturday in the cities of Citrus Heights and Sacramento
• A DUI Checkpoint is planned in the City of Citrus Heights at an undisclosed location within the city beginning at 7:00 PM until 2:00 AM
• CHP officers will deploy a Maximum Enforcement Period during the 3 day weekend with all available officers patrolling freeways and county roads

The consequences of drunk driving are that serious. Not only are impaired drivers putting their lives and the lives of others at risk, but a DUI arrest means a loss of freedom and money. That can include going to jail, losing a driver license, and paying steep financial costs of $10,000 or more.

The Avoid the 13 DUI Task Force recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving.

• Plan a safe way home before the fun begins.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver.
• DDVIP: The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP mobile app is available for free download on iOS and Android devices. The DDVIP app allows users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to search all participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Users can stay up-to-date with the latest from DDVIP and see what other users are saying via its social tab. Also through the app, for those who want to imbibe but also make it a point to plan ahead, users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen. 
• DRUGS, MEDICATION & ALCOHOL= CRASHES:  Recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent).  Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate – “Report Drunk Drivers! Call 911!”
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take your friend’s keys and help your friend make other arrangements to get to where he or she is going safely.

The Avoid the 13 campaign is partnering law enforcement officers from around the region as part of the national and statewide effort.  Funding for these special operations is provided to Sacramento County law enforcement agencies by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Drivers – Call 9-1-1’. Please direct any inquiries to Sergeant Chris Prince by phone at (916) 808-6069 or via email at cprince@pd.cityofsacramento.org.