Saratoga News

Drunk driving won't be tolerated this year

For only the third time in 22 years, drunken drivers didn't kill anyone in the county during last year's holiday season.

Law enforcement officers are aiming at the same target as they begin Avoid the 13, their annual 20-day holiday DUI crackdown, which started Dec. 13.

Eight sobriety checkpoints are planned, along with two nights of high-intensity strike teams, increased patrol on city streets, maximum freeway enforcement by the California Highway Patrol and an intensive public education campaign.

Santa Clara County Deputy Sheriff and Cupertino DUI officer Skip Yenchik will be on duty during the Avoid the 13 campaign with the sole purpose of strictly enforcing drunken-driving laws.

The sheriff's office has allocated overtime hours to deploy additional officers during prime drinking and driving hours, said Capt. Bob Wilson. On Friday and Saturday nights throughout the campaign, four reserve officers will be called in to assist with transportation and paperwork for arrested drivers.

In 1995, the sheriff's office made 60 DUI arrests, a 50 percent increase over the previous year's total. Deputy Mark Eastus won the prestigious Deuce Star Award in 1995 for making 15 DUI arrests, the record for Santa Clara County.

Law enforcement officers expect to snap the handcuffs onto more than 1,000 people on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They arrested 908 DUI suspects during last year's campaign.