Full Notification

Don't press your luck by drinking and driving on St. Patrick's Day.

Watch for increased DUI patrols by Sheriff's Deputies across San Diego County on Saturday, March 17th starting at 6:00 p.m. and lasting through 6:00 a.m. the following day. There will also be a DUI checkpoint the same night in Encinitas.

St. Patrick's Day has become a dangerous time because of people who decide to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including marijuana and prescription drugs.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports more than 10,000 people are killed each year by impaired driving in the United States.

The Sheriff's Department is committed to keeping San Diego's roadways safe from impaired drivers.

If you get caught driving while impaired, you will go to jail.

During St. Patrick's Day 2017, Sheriff's Deputies arrested 12 people on suspicion of DUI. The Sheriff's Department arrested a total of 1,225 people for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in 2017.

"Crashes caused by impaired driving are 100 percent preventable," said Sheriff Bill Gore. "If you get caught driving under the influence, you will go to jail. BUZZED DRIVING IS DRUNK DRIVING."

Here are some sober ride options for St. Patrick's Day:
• MTS (Bus and Trolley): http://www.sdmts.com
• NCTD (Bus and Coaster/Sprinter): http://www.gonctd.com

Watch our public safety message on the high price of drinking and driving by following the Sheriff's Department on VIMEO: https://goo.gl/9Ah3Mx.

Funding for the St. Patrick's Day DUI patrols/checkpoint is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).