Pre-Christmas DUI Arrests Up Slightly From Last Year

DUI arrests by the Highway Patrol during the holiday weekend are up slightly from last year in Orange County, and one fatality has been reported on roadways from 6 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Sunday.

Statewide, 15 people have been killed in crashes during the same time span, compared with five last year, according to the CHP. One of those killed was a motorcyclist riding without a helmet, and eight were traveling in vehicles unrestrained by a seat belt, according to the CHP.

CHP officers have arrested 41 drivers for suspicion of DUI in Orange County as of Sunday morning, compared with 40 last year. Those numbers do not include arrests made by other law-enforcement agencies. Last year, no fatalities were reported on county roadways during the first 36 hours of the Christmas holiday.

DUI arrests by CHP officers across California are down slightly from last year, with 700 drivers detained so far this year, compared with 710 in 2011.   

In San Diego County, 28 drivers have been arrested for suspicion of DUI and no fatalities have been reported.