DUI Cops goin' Nuts this Weekend

California Drunk Driving law enforcement agencies are boosting the number of on-duty officers patrolling Peninsula roads this holiday weekend, especially with the scheduled closure of the Bay Bridge.

California Highway Patrol officials call the weekend a "maximum enforcement period" in which an increase in auto accidents and California DUIs is expected. The enforcement period will begin around the time of this afternoon's commute and end at midnight Monday.

"We have augmented our forces somewhat due to the Bay Bridge closure," CHP Sgt. Matt Otterby said.

Otterby would not say exactly how many extra officers the CHP will have on San Mateo County highways, but said the Highway Patrol typically doubles its numbers of on-duty officers during holidays. And with more traffic expected because of the bridge closure, that number will be even higher this weekend, he said.

Additional efforts to crack down on California drunk drivers include the Avoid the 23 campaign in San Mateo County. The campaign is a joint effort of all California law enforcement agencies in the county, including the California CHP.

According to information on the Avoid Web site, the stepped-up efforts will include checkpoints in Millbrae and San Bruno. There will also be DUI strike teams in Redwood City and Daly City, California which will have two officers per vehicle and focus on California DUI enforcement.

"We just want drivers who are on the road to know there are consequences when they drink and drive," said Tim Birch, the program coordinator.

Last year, 58 California DUI arrests were made in San Mateo County during the Labor Day weekend, up slightly from the 50 arrests in 2005. No fatal California DUI-related accidents occurred during the holiday weekend in 2005 or 2006.

http://www.cbs.com