The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Lake Elsinore Station will increase patrols starting Aug. 19 through Sept. 7 to look for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The additional patrols will take place in Lake Elsinore and Wildomar through Labor Day as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign.
The Lake Elsinore station also plans to hold a DUI checkpoint Aug. 28 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location with Lake Elsinore.
“Enjoying the last days of summer should be all about fun and that starts with making safe choices before making plans,” Deputy Sheehan said in a press release. “Everyone deserves to get home safely, and it starts with your everyday actions.”
The Sheriff’s Office cited data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showing 11,904 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in the United States in 2024, or about one person every 44 minutes.
The agency said impairment is not limited to alcohol. Prescription and over-the-counter medication, as well as cannabis products, can also impair a person’s ability to drive.
The Sheriff’s Office recommends that people who plan to drink arrange for a sober driver, rideshare service, taxi or public transportation. It also advises drivers to wear seat belts, avoid distractions such as texting or eating, follow speed limits, watch for pedestrians and bicyclists and take breaks during long trips.
The public is encouraged to call 911 if they see someone who appears to be driving while impaired.
More traffic safety information is available through Go Safely California.
