Authorities Prepare for New Year's Day DUI Stops

Law enforcement agencies in San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties are stepping up holiday operations to stop and arrest drunk drivers.

On any given night throughout the holidays DUI patrols roam the streets looking for drivers drunk behind the wheel.

In six days last week, Stockton patrols arrested 36 drivers...that's double the number arrested at the same time last year.

Stockton Police Officer Joe Silva says warning the public in advance about DUI checkpoints helps discourage drinking and driving.

"Obviously for a deterrent so it's just a reminder for people to get designated drivers during this holiday time,” says Silva.

Heather Graves from Modesto Police says that city saw one death and 92 injuries from DUI collisions last year, and that has an economic effect on not just the victims, but the community as well.

“A fatality has about a $1.4 million impact, and injury has about a $70,000 impact,” Graves says.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration DUI checkpoints have been the most effective deterrent and 90 percent of California drivers approve of them.