May 23, 2006

It happens: a family’s anticipated joy at seeing a loved one graduate is turned to grief in an instant. Partying to celebrate a great event often includes alcohol and can lead to drunken driving — which may have long lasting, sometimes fatal consequences. Alcohol-related traffic accidents kill and injure not only intoxicated drivers, but also innocent, sober victims.

To help combat this menace, the Cal State Fullerton Police Department will join with 10 other law enforcement agencies for a high-intensity saturation patrol of the campus and surrounding areas on the night of Friday, May 26, from about 7 p.m. until 3 a.m.

More than 20 additional law enforcement officers will be patrolling the area, specifically looking for drivers who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Also, three California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control investigators will be on the scene to investigate where any intoxicated drivers got their alcohol and, more specifically, the source of alcohol consumed by underage drivers.

Assisting University Police and ABC officials will be officers from the California Highway Patrol, and the police departments of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma and Placentia. These agencies have banded together under the title “Avoid the 10” to combat incidents of driving under the influence by holding monthly DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols in their various jurisdictions.

“Avoid the 10” is coordinated by the Buena Park Police Department under a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

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