658 Arrested in Days Leading Up to Independence Day

Nearly 700 DUI arrests were made throughout Los Angeles County between Friday and Wednesday as law enforcement officers were out in force, the Avoid the 100 DUI Campaign announced on Thursday.

The campaign is a coordinated effort among law enforcement agencies that
includes increased patrols and sobriety/driver's license checkpoints. Funding is provided from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

From 12:01 a.m. Friday through midnight Wednesday, officers arrested 658
people for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Wendy Brewer of the
Avoid the 100 DUI Campaign said.

In 2011, in the four days leading up to Independence Day, there were 836 DUI arrests.

DUI arrest data collection will continue through midnight Saturday.

"Most Americans may not realize it, but the Fourth of July is one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to alcohol-impaired driving crashes," Brewer said.

"Often, Fourth of July celebrations start during the day, but last well into the night -- making the dangers from impaired drivers even higher at night."

Because many people will be taking the rest of the week off from work, DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols will be out in force, along with California Highway Patrol officers, said Brewer, a Glendora police community service officer.

Brewer urged the public to follow these common-sense guidelines:

• plan a safe way home before a party
• before drinking, designate a sober driver
• if you're impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, use public transportation or use your community's sober ride program
• take the care keys away from someone you know who is about to drive while impaired, and help them make arrangements to get home safely
• call 911 if you see someone driving drunk