Law enforcement DUI enforcement blitz planned

A Memorial Day weekend crackdown on drunk and drugged driving kicks off Friday night.|
CLARK MASON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Sonoma County law enforcement is beefing up this holiday weekend to crack down on drunken and drugged driving.

The County’s DUI Task Force kicks off tonight with a checkpoint in Cotati, followed by more local saturation patrols Saturday and Sunday nights in Santa Rosa, Cotati, Rohnert Park and around Sonoma State University.

The Highway Patrol is also deploying all available officers Memorial Day weekend onto freeways and county roads as part of the maximum enforcement period.

Recent statistics show 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their system, according to Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Mike Numainville. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving - 14 percent - than did for alcohol at 7 percent.

Police emphasized that for those on medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter, alcohol can greatly intensify impairment.

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