SAN DIEGO — An end-of-year crackdown targeting drunken and drug- impaired drivers in San Diego County and statewide will begin Friday.
The California Highway Patrol will initiate its New Year's "maximum enforcement period" at 6 p.m. Friday, when all available officers deploy to catch impaired motorists, speeders and other traffic violators. The campaign will continue until late Sunday night, where the CHP says they're not only targeting those driving under the influence.
"We will also be out there looking for aggressive drivers, distracted drivers, and speeders which have been a big issue for us as of late,” said Salvador Castro, California Highway Patrol public information officer.
San Diegans will have options for getting home safely after Friday evening's festivities, with free rides and extra late-night transit service on New Year's Eve.
The Metropolitan Transit System and the North County Transit District will offer free rides and extra service after 6 p.m. on all MTS buses and Trolleys, and NCTD's Coaster, Sprinter and Breeze services.
"Even though the rideshare may cost you a little bit of money, it is definitely far less than what you would see if you were arrested for a DUI which averages about a $13,000 penalty in fine," said San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit.
Lyft and Bird will also offer discounts on electric scooters. By entering the code "MTS2022" riders can get a discount of $5 on scooter rides that start or end at select transit centers all day on New Year's Eve and Day. For Lyft scooters, riders should redeem the code to their account before they ride to ensure it is automatically applied to the trip.
"MTS is extending the hours of all three trolley times with the last trips leaving downtown after 1 a.m.," said Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, National City Mayor and vice chair on the MTS board.
The 2020-21 New Year's MEP netted 709 DUI arrests statewide, compared to 491 in the 2019-20 campaign, which lasted only 30 hours because it was conducted in the middle of the week.
According to the CHP, 56 people died in crashes investigated by the agency during last year's campaign. Roughly half of the fatalities involved individuals who were not wearing safety restraints of any kind, officials said.
"I look at the DUI numbers now, and we are looking at the highest number of DUIs fatal collisions in this county, that I can remember," said Chief David Nisleit.
In the pandemic, Mothers Against Drunk Driving says car crashes, where the driver tested positive for at least one active drug, including alcohol shot up from 50% in 2019 to 64% in 2020.
"That is a scary thing to think about that in one year, it has upticked that much,” said Kim Christianson, MADD Special events manager of Southern California.
Kim Christianson of MADD Southern California says the ripple effect from drinking and driving goes long beyond a crash.
"I am affected like so many others, I have lost friends to drunk driving, and it is something that needs to end,” Christianson said.
San Diego Police urge the public to be on the lookout tonight.
“If you are on the road, and you see somebody swerving all over the place, and they are driving all in an unsafe manner, call 911 so maybe we can get there in time and stop them before they can cause a collision,” said San Diego Police Lt. Adam Sharki.
WATCH THROWBACK: New Year's Eve celebrations and New Year's Day babies in San Diego in the 1960s and '70s