Full Notification

Nearly 50 million travelers will be hitting the road this Thanksgiving, according to AAA. To make sure local roadways are safe for everyone, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department is asking everyone to say no to impaired driving.

Sheriff's Deputies will be conducting additional impaired driving patrols across San Diego County from Thursday, November 28th (Thanksgiving) through Sunday, December 1st.

The Sheriff's Department's goal is simple: to keep impaired drivers off the road and prevent crashes that can cause serious injury or death. So far this year, deputies have arrested more than 1,200 people for impaired driving.

During Thanksgiving weekend 2018, deputies arrested 11 people for impaired driving. 13 people were arrested for DUI during the same time period in 2017.

"Impaired driving doesn't just mean alcohol," said Sheriff Bill Gore. "It can also include prescription drugs and marijuana. If you are caught driving under the influence, you will spend Thanksgiving in jail."

Here are some sober rider options for Thanksgiving:
Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) - http://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.

Remember: 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. In California, the fine for a seat belt violation is $162. The fine for not securing a child in a child safety seat is $490.

Remember: 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).