Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Extra Fresno Officers on the Prowl for DUI Through New Year's Day
bill-new-mug-002
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 2 years ago on
December 13, 2022

Share

One person dies in the United States every 45 minutes at the hands of a drunk driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fresno police want to cut into that deadly statistic, and they’re adding patrol officers starting Wednesday to arrest impaired drivers.

The extra enforcement is part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign and is paid for by state grants.

Given that marijuana is legal in California, it’s important for motorists to realize that impaired driving doesn’t involve just alcohol.

“Marijuana, prescription medications, or over-the-counter drugs may also impair,” Fresno police said in a news release. “Do your research and understand how certain drugs may affect
your driving ability.”

Blood Alcohol Chart

At 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, a head-on collision at Clinton and Maple avenues sent both drivers to the hospital.

Officers with the California Highway Patrol arrested the man who caused the crash by running a red light for suspected DUI.

“Take an Uber, get a ride, call a friend, stay somewhere to sleep it off. This is preventable and didn’t need to happen,” CHP Sgt. Nicholas Ranger told ABC30.

Fresno PD Arrests Nine DUI Suspects Friday

Fresno PD encourages people out partying to have a “go safely” game plan by scheduling a ride or designating a sober driver.

But people aren’t getting the word — or are ignoring it at the peril of themselves and others on the streets.

Last Friday night, during a DUI enforcement effort, Fresno officers arrested nine drivers on suspicion of DUI. For the record: Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

Fresno’s extra enforcement campaign will continue through New Year’s Day.

Half of People Killed in Crashes Have Drugs, Alcohol in Bloodstream

A large study by U.S. highway safety regulators published Tuesday found that more than half the people injured or killed in traffic crashes had one or more drugs, or alcohol, in their bloodstreams.

Also, just over 54% of injured drivers had drugs or alcohol in their systems, with THC, an active ingredient in marijuana, the most prevalent, followed by alcohol.

Although researchers caution that the results can’t be used to gauge drug use on the roads nationwide, they say the high number of drivers, passengers and other road users with drugs in their systems is concerning.

Acting NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson said the study found that nearly 20% of the drivers tested had blood-alcohol levels of 0.08% or higher, exceeding the legal limit in every state.

“We also are concerned that nearly 20% of road users tested positive for two or more drugs, including alcohol,” she said. “The use of multiple substances at once can magnify the impairing effects of each drug.”

(Associated Press contributed to this story.)

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Crescent View West High Celebrates New Clovis Home

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Sentenced to 29 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children and Dog

DON'T MISS

Bulldogs’ Two-Position Standout Tommy Hopfe Signs With Rockies

DON'T MISS

Artists, Vendors Plan to Defy City’s ArtHop Crackdown

DON'T MISS

Former Bulldog QB Jake Haener: I Have a ‘Rare Form of Skin Cancer’

DON'T MISS

The Many Names of GOP Vice Presidential Nominee JD Vance

DON'T MISS

‘Fed Up’ Dyer, Councilmembers Unveil Plan to Crack Down on Street Campers

DON'T MISS

House Republicans Slam Trump’s ‘Worst Choice’ for VP Pick JD Vance

DON'T MISS

Companies Cut Prices to Boost Sales, Consumers Respond

DON'T MISS

Stay Cool, Fresno!

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Sentenced to 29 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children and Dog

UP NEXT

Bulldogs’ Two-Position Standout Tommy Hopfe Signs With Rockies

UP NEXT

Artists, Vendors Plan to Defy City’s ArtHop Crackdown

UP NEXT

Former Bulldog QB Jake Haener: I Have a ‘Rare Form of Skin Cancer’

UP NEXT

The Many Names of GOP Vice Presidential Nominee JD Vance

UP NEXT

‘Fed Up’ Dyer, Councilmembers Unveil Plan to Crack Down on Street Campers

UP NEXT

House Republicans Slam Trump’s ‘Worst Choice’ for VP Pick JD Vance

UP NEXT

Companies Cut Prices to Boost Sales, Consumers Respond

UP NEXT

Stay Cool, Fresno!

UP NEXT

Warner Bros. Discovery Sues NBA for Not Accepting Its Matching Offer

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Artists, Vendors Plan to Defy City’s ArtHop Crackdown

7 hours ago

Former Bulldog QB Jake Haener: I Have a ‘Rare Form of Skin Cancer’

8 hours ago

The Many Names of GOP Vice Presidential Nominee JD Vance

8 hours ago

‘Fed Up’ Dyer, Councilmembers Unveil Plan to Crack Down on Street Campers

8 hours ago

House Republicans Slam Trump’s ‘Worst Choice’ for VP Pick JD Vance

8 hours ago

Companies Cut Prices to Boost Sales, Consumers Respond

9 hours ago

Stay Cool, Fresno!

9 hours ago

Warner Bros. Discovery Sues NBA for Not Accepting Its Matching Offer

9 hours ago

Tanker Plane Crash Kills Firefighting Pilot in Oregon as Western Wildfires Spread

9 hours ago

Will Bonta Election Lawsuit Reverse the Will of Fresno County Voters?

9 hours ago

Crescent View West High Celebrates New Clovis Home

The arch of colorful balloons over the doorway of a storefront on Shaw Avenue in Clovis was a clue that something exciting was happening on ...

6 hours ago

6 hours ago

Crescent View West High Celebrates New Clovis Home

6 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to 29 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children and Dog

7 hours ago

Bulldogs’ Two-Position Standout Tommy Hopfe Signs With Rockies

7 hours ago

Artists, Vendors Plan to Defy City’s ArtHop Crackdown

8 hours ago

Former Bulldog QB Jake Haener: I Have a ‘Rare Form of Skin Cancer’

8 hours ago

The Many Names of GOP Vice Presidential Nominee JD Vance

8 hours ago

‘Fed Up’ Dyer, Councilmembers Unveil Plan to Crack Down on Street Campers

8 hours ago

House Republicans Slam Trump’s ‘Worst Choice’ for VP Pick JD Vance

Search

Send this to a friend