'Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over': Holiday DUI Patrols Underway In SMC

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office joined the nationwide "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign this week, reminding residents to celebrate responsibly as extra deputies hit the streets to watch out for impaired drivers.

The added patrols kicked off Wednesday and will stick around through New Year's Day, keeping an eye out for drivers who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office encourages everyone to stay in for the night or have a 'go safely' game plan by scheduling a ride or designating a sober driver if you plan to consume alcohol," the sheriff's office wrote. "Impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Marijuana,m prescription medications or over-the-county drugs may also impair."

Metrics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2021 showed more than 1,000 people died from crashes related to impaired driving in just the month of December.

The sheriff's office joins several Peninsula law enforcement agencies conducting similar patrols throughout the holidays. Funding for the effort comes from annual grants awarded by the state Office of Traffic Safety.