Law enforcement officials in San Diego Tuesday expressed serious concerns over an increase in the number of alcohol-related fatal crashes this summer.
Eleven people have been killed this summer in accidents involving drunken drivers, according to officials. District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said the deaths need to stop.
"This has been a summer of shame when it comes to fatal DUIs," Dumanis said. "The conduct of the individuals who caused these crashes is horrific. We've had drunks driving the wrong way on the highway, individuals consuming alcohol for hours before getting behind the wheel and a young mother driving with her children in the car while using drugs. Tragically, lives have been lost because of these preventable crimes, which should serve as a wake-up call to anyone even thinking about driving under the influence."
Heading into the Labor Day weekend, officers will be out in force cracking down on suspected DUI drivers through added sobriety checkpoints and a "no tolerance" approach to drunken driving.
"DUI is a 100 percent preventable crime," said San Diego police Chief Shelley Zimmerman. "People make decisions every day regarding right and wrong. If you drink and make the terrible decision to drive, that decision may cost you more than a DUI. It might cost you your life or the life of another."
Zimmerman urged people to have a plan if they go out and drink, selecting a designated driver ahead of time.
Craig Carter, president of the San Diego County Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Association, said citizens need to be aware and call 911 if they see an impaired driver.
"We need the public to step up," Carter said, urging people to call taxis or ride-hailing services and take keys from someone who has been drinking.
Zimmerman outlined a couple of programs being used in San Diego, including one where people coming out of a bar can blow into a breathalyzer to determine their blood-alcohol content.
