DUI patrols, heavy traffic merge this weekend
Melissa Pinion-Whitt SB Sun Staff Writer
FONTANA - While the taste of a couple cold ones and the roar of the race at California Speedway may seem like a great match under the hot Southern California sun, it could prove costly for people who over-imbibe.
About 15 CHP officers plan to look for motorists driving while under the influence on Interstate 10, Interstate 15 and the Interstate 210 extension around the Speedway from 4 p.m. into the evening Sunday until race traffic begins to dwindle.
"This is the first time we've had concentrated (DUI) enforcement on the freeways around the raceway," said California Highway Patrol Officer Sean Cooper. "We're just trying to be innovative and aggressive in combating this problem."
Officers have previously conducted roving patrols inside the Speedway, but they say the number of drunken-driving crashes outside the gates has been an ongoing problem.
Other agencies will also be focusing on drunken driving as people make the last mad dash out of town for the last holiday weekend of the summer.
Rialto police will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint today at an undisclosed location and time. Drivers approaching the checkpoint will see signs warning them the checkpoint is ahead.
Traffic is expected to increase slightly this Labor Day weekend over last year, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. Nearly 3.1 million Southern Californians an increase of 1.1 percent over last year will drive, fly or ride to holiday destinations. Nearly 80 percent will drive at least 50 miles.
Caltrans officials said freeway construction projects will continue through the weekend but shouldn't cause any additional lane closures.
A paving project along I-15 in Barstow will be handled mostly at night and other projects will be off to the side of the freeway, said Caltrans spokeswoman Traci Peterson.
A bridge-replacement project along Interstate 40 through the desert will also continue. All but one lane in either direction will be closed on a 17-mile stretch from Kelbaker to Essex Road west of Ludlow.
Officials recommend Inland Empire motorists return from their trips prior to Monday and either travel early in the morning or late in the evening.
"Leave early, be patient, plan ahead," Peterson said. "If you're going across the desert, make sure your car is in good working order. Bring water, food and medication."
Oh boy did they have the enforcement out the whole Weekend long. I don't know if you were out driving around, but they had the Sig Alert signs all Lit, Asking for people who see DUI Drivers to call 9-1-1 and report the driver to the Police. They were setting up the DUI Check points like they have listed here in the paper, which is the first protocol to setting up the Check Points, they have to properly notify the public to allow the public to know that they are or should not drive if their driving has been altercated changed by Drinking. They advertised heavily on the television with the men driving the liquid drinks in the cars and stating that you were going to get caught if you drove drunk. It was a very good campaign this year.
I don't drink and I was nervous this year!! terribly nervous to drive!! so wow. I drove we went to Ojai and had a good time, but it was such a long drive from here that we drove right back home. and it was fun however. We might do it again sometime. but I don't know when.
Well, I hope that you didn't drive drunk, and if you did I hope that you got caught! but that is just me!! sorry!
BSRanch
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