OC Police Hit The Bars With Breathalyzers, Uber Vouchers To Raise DUI Awareness
LAGUNA BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Orange County police hit the bars Saturday night in two beach communities in an effort to educate people on the dangers of drinking and driving.
Officers from the Laguna Beach Police Department administered breathalyzer tests to willing participants so they could see if their blood alcohol levels exceeded the legal driving limit. It's part of the "Know Your Limit" campaign, which also had police offering advice on how to find safe rides home and, even, handing out Uber vouchers.
Officers say Laguna Beach had an unusually high number of DUI-related fatalities in 2014 -- more than any other year for the past three decades.
Law enforcement alone isn't fixing the problem. Officers say they're using federal grant money to raise the public's awareness about drunk driving.
Laguna Beach police say were inspired by the efforts of Huntington Beach police to curb DUI-related crimes and asked them for training.
"They think we are here to wait and arrest them later. We are just here to educate them on how to get home safely," an officer said.
Some bar patrons thought the "Know Your Limit" initiative was time well spent.
Officers say they administered more than 70 free breathalyzer tests Saturday night and hope to continue their efforts in the area.
