Deputies with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Lake Elsinore Station will be conducting DUI saturation patrols on May 7 in an effort to remove impaired drivers from local roads and prevent crashes.
Deputies will be actively looking for drivers under the influence throughout the area as part of a grant-funded program supported by the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Officials say the patrols are meant to address a preventable issue that puts drivers and others at risk. A first-time DUI can cost around $13,500 in fines and penalties, along with a suspended driver’s license.
Law enforcement also reminds the public that impairment isn’t limited to alcohol. Prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and marijuana can all affect driving ability. Even though marijuana may be legal for medical and recreational use in California, driving under its influence is still illegal.
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