AVOID THE 12 PLANS EXTRA PATROLS

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY- April 15th, 2009

VINTNER'S FESTIVAL WEEKEND

Police officers and deputies in Santa Barbara County are hoping to see the best possible vehicle operators at this weekend’s Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Festival—limousine drivers, bus drivers and designated sober drivers.

Officers from police departments covering Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Guadalupe and Santa Maria along with California State Parks officers and sheriff’s deputies will staff the  Avoid the 12 DUI task force deployment from 7 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday and again from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

“‘Avoid the 12’ is the countywide anti-DUI crackdown that gets its name from the dozen law enforcement agencies in the county,” said Deputy Win Smith, campaign coordinator. The California Office of Traffic Safety funds it through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Buellton Area Command of the California Highway Patrol will send out extra officers to search for DUI suspects, said Lt. Marty Maples. “We will also have officers staffing an informational booth about designated drivers. This is funded by an OTS grant that partners the CHP with the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association,” he said.

Smith reported 77 car stops, 16 DUI investigations and only four arrests during last year’s event. He was pleased at the number of limousines and buses on the road and the plethora of designated drivers.

Avoid the 12 will also run a four-day DUI crackdown over the long Memorial Day weekend.