Published
1 month agoon
The Fresno Police Department says that it arrested 15 drivers for suspected DUI during a saturation patrol on Saturday.
That number might not seem high in a city with nearly 550,000 residents.
But the truth is, an inordinate number of Fresnans are driving while intoxicated or buzzed.
To date, Fresno PD has made 1,588 DUI arrests this year — a pace that if it continues would result in 2,382 arrests for 2023.
Last year, the department made 1,922 DUI arrests.
One can attribute part of the rise in DUI arrests to increased enforcement. But, if people don’t drive after drinking or indulging in drugs, they can’t be arrested for DUI.
Bottom line: Despite all the admonishments against driving while impaired, thousands of Fresnans continue to do so.
They do so knowing they could kill someone or themselves or a loved one.
They do so likely knowing a first-time DUI conviction results in an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license and increased insurance premiums.
Fresno PD’s next DUI enforcement operation is scheduled for this coming Saturday.
If you get busted, don’t say you weren’t warned.
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
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