Full Notification

With millions of people hitting the road for Thanksgiving, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department wants you to do the responsible thing and not drink and drive. If you get arrested, you will go to jail.

Sheriff's Deputies will be conducting additional impaired driving patrols across San Diego County from Thursday, November 22nd (Thanksgiving) through Sunday, November 25th.

The Sheriff's Department's goal is simple: to remove impaired drivers from roadways and prevent crashes that can cause serious injury or death. So far this year, deputies have arrested more than 1,000 people for impaired driving.

During Thanksgiving weekend 2017, deputies arrested 13 people for impaired driving. 20 people were arrested for DUI during the same time period in 2016.

"Remember, DUI doesn't just mean booze," said Sheriff Bill Gore. "It can also include prescription drugs and marijuana. If you are caught driving impaired, you will spend your Thanksgiving behind bars."

Here are some sober rider options for Thanksgiving:

• Metropolitan Transit System (MTS)
https://www.sdmts.com/
• North County Transit District (NCTD)
http://www.gonctd.com/

Watch our public safety video on the dangers and high price of impaired driving by following the Sheriff's Department on VIMEO: https://goo.gl/5vK8Z9. Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.

If you are one of the many people driving this Thanksgiving weekend, don't forget to buckle your seat belt.

Many car crash injuries and deaths could be prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.

Sheriff's Deputies are always on the lookout to make sure people are obeying California's seat belt laws.

If you're caught not wearing a seat belt, you will be cited and fined. Click It or Ticket.

The Sheriff's Department also wants to remind you to say no to distracted driving. A driver that texts or uses a hand-held cell phone can cause a crash that leads to serious injuries or even death.

Funding for the Thanksgiving DUI/seat belt enforcement program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).