Holiday DUI Arrests Spike in Orange County

California Highway Patrol officers in Orange County arrested 44 suspected drunken drivers from Wednesday evening to 6 a.m. Saturday, seven more than the tally for the same Thanksgiving holiday period last year.

DUI arrests were only those made by CHP officers.

There were no fatalities reported for the same Thanksgiving holiday period either year. Fatalities were for all law enforcement agencies.

This year 11 vehicle occupants were killed over the holiday period in the CHP's jurisdiction statewide. Six of them did not wear safety belts. Two motorcyclists were killed in the CHP's jurisdiction. Both of them were wearing helmets. No pedestrians or bicyclists were killed this holiday season.

CHP officers throughout the state arrested 840 suspected drunken drivers on freeways and on roads in unincorporated areas during the reporting period, 63 less than the same time period last year, according to the CHP.

Statewide, 17 traffic fatalities were reported this year. Law enforcement agencies reported 14 people were killed during the same Thanksgiving weekend period last year.

The CHP investigates all crashes on freeways, and on all roads in unincorporated areas.

 - City News Service