DUI Xmas Warning: 'You'd Better Watch Out'

Orange County's DUI task force has a holiday warning for drivers: “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

According to the Sheriff's Department, the 38-agency DUI Task Force program, which continues through Jan. 3, will utilize DUI/driver's license checkpoints; local DUI saturation patrols; multi-agency DUI task force strike team patrols; and DUI warrant/probation sweeps. And, during Christmas and New Year's weekends, the California Highway Patrol will deploy all available officers.

"If you are caught driving impaired, you will be arrested," said Deputy Wayne Howard with the Sheriff’s Department traffic bureau. "No warnings. No excuses.”

The department reminds drivers that DUI violators can get jail time, lose their driver's license and face higher insurance rates, attorney fees and court costs, as well as lose pay—or even a job—through lost work time.

Throughout the campaign, the Sheriff’s Department and Laguna Beach, Irvine, Tustin and La Palma police departments will conduct DUI saturation patrols. Other agencies have announced these schedules:

• Los Alamitos, Orange and UC Irvine police: Dec. 21, 8 p.m.-3 a.m.
• Placentia, Buena Park and La Habra: Dec. 22, 8 p.m.-3 a.m.
• Anaheim and Cal State Fullerton police: Dec. 22, 8 p.m.-3 a.m.
• Fullerton police: Dec. 24, 8 p.m.-3 a.m.
• Placentia police: Dec. 31, 8 p.m.-3 a.m.

Scheduled DUI/driver's license checkpoints:

• Anaheim: Dec. 29, 7 p.m.-3 a.m.
• Buena Park, Placentia: Dec. 29, 7 p.m.-3 a.m.

The Sheriff’s Department and Buena Park police will conduct DUI warrant service operations during the campaign but will not announce the dates.

Grant funding for the Orange County effort comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.