More Than 200 DUI Suspects Arrested During First Six Days of Crackdown

RIVERSIDE - More than 200 people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence during the first six days of a holiday crackdown on drunken and drug-impaired driving in Riverside County, authorities reported today.

The Avoid the 30 task force -- named for the number of participating agencies -- began conducting anti-DUI operations on Friday as part of a campaign that will run to Jan. 2.

Between Friday morning and 11:59 last night, 220 people were nabbed on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, compared to 203 DUI arretss during the same period in last year's holiday crackdown, according to Riverside police Sgt. Skip Showalter, the Avoid coordinator.

Since Friday, three people have died in DUI-related collisions in Riverside County, Showalter said.

Altogether, 30 checkpoints are planned countywide over the next 10 days. Agencies will also be conducting saturation patrols, targeting motorists who may be under the influence. Operations are scheduled Christmas weekend in Coachella, Hemet, La Quinta, Palm Desert and Riverside, according to Showalter.

The Avoid campaign will coincide with the California Highway Patrol's ''maximum enforcement period'' this weekend, during which 80 percent of the agency's officers hit the streets to catch drunks, speeders and other violators.

In December 2009, 57 people in California were killed in alcohol-related collisions.

During the winter 2010 Avoid campaign, 593 people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, a 6 percent drop from 2009, when 629 DUI suspects were arrested.

Authorities recommended that people planning to imbibe during holiday festivities designate a sober driver, hire a taxi or use a community sober ride program to get home.

Anyone who spots a possible drunken driver should call 911.