Petaluma PD Makes 6 DUI Arrests Saturday Night

PETALUMA, CA — Five people were arrested on suspicion of DUI Saturday night in Petaluma during a DUI saturation patrol.

The Petaluma Police Department deployed eight additional officers for the operation as part of the department's ongoing Office Of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant. The saturation patrol was held from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and the officers specifically looked for impaired drivers.

By the end of the night, officers stopped 82 drivers, 15 of whom were evaluated for intoxication and five of whom were arrested on suspicion of driving impaired. Two of the drivers arrested for suspected DUI were also found to be driving without a California driver's license; and one of the drivers arrested for suspected DUI had a blood alcohol content of .28 percent, which is more than three times the legal limit of .08 percent.

In addition to the five suspected DUI drivers caught during the operation, another suspected DUI driver was arrested by routine patrols.

The Petaluma Police Department encourages people to call 911 if they witness a suspected DUI driver.

"The Petaluma Police Department is committed to increasing overall traffic safety and reducing the number of alcohol-related collisions," Petaluma police Sgt. Walt Spiller said. "We will continue our efforts to locate and identify impaired drivers."

Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 to $20,000 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license, Spiller said.

"The Petaluma Police Department encourages people who visit and enjoy Petaluma, to plan ahead and either designate a sober driver, use ride share or call a taxi to avoid drinking and driving," Spiller said. "Driving under the influence is 100 percent preventable."

Funding for Saturday night's DUI saturation patrol was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.