Santa Barbara County Cinco De Mayo Weekend Enforcement

Guadalupe - May 3rd, 2008

GUADALUPE POLICE, AVOID THE 12 TASK FORCE
SET SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT, SATURATION PATROLS
FOR CINCO DE MAYO WEEKEND, MAY 3 AND 4

Guadalupe police, with the aid of the “Avoid the 12” Task Force, will be on the lookout for DUI suspects over the Cinco de Mayo weekend, said Chief Mitchell.

Sheriff’s deputies and officers from Lompoc, Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College and the University of California, Santa Barbara, will help local officers staff a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday, May 3, from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. and will run saturation patrols on Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.

“We want to keep our residents safe from the property damage, injury and death that drunk or drugged drivers so often cause, ”Chief Mitchell said.  “DUI is a serious crime with serious consequences.”

"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, of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, campaign coordinator.  The California Office of Traffic Safety funds it through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“We often send Guadalupe officers to 'Avoid the 12' Task Force operations, which concentrate on celebrations that involve alcohol, such as the Santa Barbara County Vintner’s Festival, St. Patrick’s Day and Super Bowl Sunday as well as Fiesta in Santa Barbara," Chief Mitchell remarked.

A designated sober driver will be the key to having a great time at local celebrations while avoiding the large fines, insurance rate hikes and jail time that a DUI arrest and conviction carry, the chief commented.

“Just take a few minutes a couple of days before the party and decide on a family member or friend who will stay completely sober and drive everyone around.  It doesn’t cost a cent and works perfectly.”