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Bay Area law enforcement agencies reported more arrests and fewer traffic fatalities compared to last year in their DUI enforcement campaigns over the Memorial Day weekend.
The California Highway Patrol reported 227 arrests for driving under the influence during the enforcement period that started Friday and ended Monday. That number was up from 215 arrests last year.
There was just one death on regional roadways this year compared to five in 2009, according to the CHP.
The statewide numbers also showed an increase in arrests but a decrease in deaths. There were 1,541 arrests statewide this year – 76 more than in 2009 – and 17 traffic deaths, compared to 45 a year ago.
In the Bay Area, Santa Clara County had the most DUI arrests – 146 – during the weekend, while Alameda County had 144, according to Jan Ford, spokeswoman for the Avoid Campaign.
There were 63 arrests in Contra Costa County, 58 in Sonoma County, 45 in Monterey County, 29 in Marin County, 26 in San Francisco, and 24 in Napa County, Ford said.
The lone Bay Area traffic death over the weekend was in Contra
Costa County, where a 65-year-old man died after apparently suffering a medical emergency while driving near the Antioch/Oakley border.
Similar DUI campaigns are planned during the July Fourth weekend, as well as an 18-day summer mobilization campaign in August.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News