South Tahoe police ramp up enforcement Halloween weekend

As party-going ghosts and goblins celebrate Halloween, the Avoid the 6 El Dorado County coalition reminds everyone to keep the party off the road.

Roving DUI Saturation is planned this weekend as part of South Lake Tahoe Police Department’s ongoing effort to lower impaired driving in the region. The DUI patrols will be working on Oct. 31 while the little ones head out for trick-or-treating.

Nighttime is an especially dangerous time to be on the road, but Halloween weekend is often one of the deadliest times of the year for impaired drivers. According to the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, 16 individuals died and 417 were injured on Halloween in alcohol Involved Collision during the past five years.

South Lake Tahoe Police Department recommends these tips for a safe Halloween:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;

• Before drinking, designate a sober driver;

• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;

• If you happen to see a drunken driver on the road, call 911;

• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.