For further information, contact:
Jan Ford, Public Information
Avoid the 8-Law Enforcement in San Francisco
(650) 322-9121
Cell: (650) 269-2148

SAN FRANCISCO’S AVOID THE 8 PLANS SATURATION DUI PATROLS, FREEWAY ENFORCEMENT, SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND

 Enforcement is part of statewide effort

 As a part of a statewide crackdown over the Independence Day weekend, Avoid the 8, San Francisco’s multi-jurisdictional crackdown on drunk driving, plans a sobriety checkpoint for Saturday, July 3 in the city.

The four–day enforcement event, which begins at the first minute of Friday, July 2, and ends at midnight Monday, July 5, is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Every available California Highway Patrol officer will be on the freeways and on the lookout for reckless driving, according to Capt. Paul Fontana of the San Francisco squad.

“We talk a lot about driving drunk,” said Sgt. Neil Swendsen of the San Francisco Police Dept.’s Traffic Company, who will be in charge of the checkpoint.

“The other side of that is riding with a drunk driver. Don’t believe anyone who’s been drinking when they tell you they are fine to drive. Get out, call a cab, hop on a bus, trolley or cable car or arrange a ride with a stone-cold sober person.”

Avoid the 8 will hit the roads again for an 18-day summer DUI enforcement mobilization that starts Aug. 20 and ends Sept. 6, just after the Labor Day weekend. It is part of a national campaign.

The California Office of Traffic Safety funds all 41 countywide cooperative campaigns in the state through the National Traffic Safety Administration.

They cover 98 percent of California’s population and involve 540 law enforcement agencies. Avoid campaigns are the largest funded DUI crackdowns in the United States, according to NHTSA.

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