DUI Crackdowns Planned Through July 7 Across Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Starting Monday, Riverside County sheriff's deputies will be ramping up patrols to catch drunken and drug-impaired drivers as part of a Fourth of July week crackdown in multiple municipalities.

"Choosing a sober driver is not just about following the law; it's about saving lives," sheriff's Sgt. Andrew Sullivan said. "If you plan on celebrating the Fourth of July with a drink, we want you to make a plan to go safely with a sober ride home. Think of your loved ones, friends and family before getting behind the wheel."

The sheriff's "Don't be the 'I' in DUI" campaign is scheduled in Coachella, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, La Quinta and Norco, though additional locations are likely to be added. It will continue to July 7.

Sullivan said that deputies will be initiating saturation patrols and other targeted efforts to catch DUI suspects.

The sergeant noted that the most recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed 487 people were fatally injured in crashes nationwide in 2022.

"Of those deadly crashes, 40% involved alcohol," he said. "In California, 68 people were killed in crashes during last year's Independence Day holiday period. In addition, California Highway Patrol officers made nearly 1,224 arrests for driving under the influence — an average of one DUI arrest every five minutes."

Alcohol and illicit substances are not the only potential causes of impaired driving. Sullivan said cannabis, prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications can have the same or similar effects.

"Do your research and be informed about how certain drugs may affect your driving ability," the sheriff's spokesman said. "If you are hosting friends and family for barbecues and watching fireworks shows, offer nonalcoholic drinks for designated sober drivers and monitor who is drinking. If you see people leaving who have been drinking, offer to have them stay the night or make arrangements for them to take a sober ride home."

Funding for the "Don't be the 'I' in DUI" campaign was provided by the NHTSA, via grants distributed by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

On Wednesday, the CHP is slated to inaugurate an Independence Day maximum enforcement period, during which all available officers will deploy to snare impaired motorists on freeways, highways and unincorporated roads countywide over a 36-hour period.