San Jose Boosts DUI Patrols For The Holidays

SAN JOSE, CA — With the holiday season now underway, and plenty of celebrations, gatherings, and trips on the horizon, San Jose is assigning more officers to look out for dangerous drivers.

Over the next week, the police department said it will staff extra patrols to monitor for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Officials pointed to data showing alcohol playing an outsized role in deadly crashes, particularly during the month of December.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 1,500 people were killed during alcohol-related crashes in California in 2022. In San Jose, police have recorded almost four dozen traffic deaths this year. Officials urged residents to celebrate responsibly and "give the gift of safe driving."

"We want our community to stay safe and have a joy-filled holiday season," said Lieutenant Nqui Scherry. "If you plan to go out and celebrate, please choose a sober way to go by designating a sober driver or arranging alternative transportation."

Funding for the holiday season patrols comes from a grant awarded by the state Office of Traffic Safety and funded by the NHTSA.