No San Diego drunk driving fatalities on county highways during first 12 hours of New Year's weekend


SAN DIEGO DUI news - No fatalities occurred on San Diego County highways during the first 12 hours of the New Year's holiday period, but 33 people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, the California Highway Patrol reported Saturday.

During the same period a year ago, 31 DUI arrests had been made in the region in the same time period, according to the CHP.

In neighboring Orange County, no fatalities were reported in the 12-hour period ending at 6 this morning, while DUI arrests stood at 30, compared to 18 in the same stretch last year.


But in Los Angeles County, three highway deaths were reported, compared to none during the same time period last year, according to the CHP.

Statewide, eight fatalities were reported in the 12-hour period that began at 6 last night, compared to six during the same stretch last year. DUI arrests were up -- at 388 from 340 a year ago.

CHP officers in Los Angeles County arrested 86 motorists on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the first hours of the holiday period, down from 97 in the same period last year.


Escondido DUI:

Escondido police arrested five motorists on suspicion of driving while intoxicated Friday during a roving sweep, authorities said.

City police, with assistance from San Diego police, patrolled Escondido from 7 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday looking for motorists under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Lt. Mike Loarie said.

Police arrested another person for a misdemeanor arrest warrant and impounded 15 vehicles whose drivers were without a valid license, he said. Officers also cited 31 motorists for various violations, Loarie said.


The program was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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