Holiday DUI Arrests Mount to 743 During the Two Week Period

January 4, 2011 - According to reports during the two week holiday period there were 743 arrests for driving under the influence.

According to the California Highway Patrol and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, along with other police agencies during their Winter Holiday crackdown for DUI drivers arrested a total of 743 people.

The police agencies began the DUI checkpoints from December 17 at 12:01 a.m. until 12:00 a.m. January 2nd. The 743 arrests were drivers that were suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

According to authorities there were five DUI related deaths in Orange County during the holiday season.

The total for 2010 holiday season is up from last year during the same period that had a total of 602 driving under the influence arrests and no fatalities were reported.

The California Office of Traffic Safety funded the program that along with routine patrols had an additional 38 special check points, along with the California Highway Patrol involvement and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.