Law enforcement authorities are gearing up for battle against drunken and drugged drivers over the holiday weekend, mounting saturation patrols and DUI checkpoints designed to keep impaired drivers off the roads.
"This is a 'zero tolerance' crackdown," Rohnert Park Public Safety Lt. Jeff Taylor said in a statement, "so drive sober or get pulled over."
The Memorial Day holiday, school graduations and the launch of summer barbecue season can be a potent mix when it comes to road safety, said Petaluma Police Sgt. Ken Savano, who coordinates the countywide Avoid the 13 holiday campaign, in which each of Sonoma County's 13 law enforcement agencies participate.
The CHP's statewide Maximum Enforcement Campaign will overlap local efforts, putting extra officers on the roads between 6 p.m. Friday and midnight Monday, state and local officials said.
"We want everyone to go out and have a good time," Santa Rosa CHP Officer Steve Fricke said, "but we want to make sure everyone is responsible for their actions, and make sure that if they're drinking to definitely designate a driver to avoid any accidents or anything like that."
Humboldt County CHP officers will focus Monday especially on speeding on the Highway 101 corridor, a heavily traveled holiday route, authorities said.
"All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on our local roadways by speeding," area Commander Adam Jager said.
Anyone planning to attend a party or otherwise celebrate should limit what they drink as well as what they serve to others, and make sure there is plenty of food available to anyone imbibing alcohol.
And anyone who sees what appears to be an impaired driver should call 9-1-1, they said.
"Have a great weekend, but let's be responsible," Fricke said.
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