Mid-Valley police cracking down on DUI drivers

Police are targeting drunken drivers during the Labor Day weekend in Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties.

Additional patrols are part of the ongoing law enforcement emphasis on arresting drunken drivers, Marysville police Sgt. Chris Sachs said.

"We've seen a significant number of arrests already," Sachs said.

Officers have reported 44 DUI arrests between the three counties since the effort began Aug. 17 and nearly every local law enforcment agency is participating.

On Thursday, law enforcement in Yuba County recovered two occupied stolen vehicles and made three DUI arrests, including one alleged drunken driver involved in a minor injury collision Thursday evening, Sachs said.

Results were not available for a DUI checkpoint Friday in Marysville, but Sachs said officers have made at least one DUI arrest at each of the checkpoints conducted this summer.

"We're averaging between one and four arrests at each one," Sachs said.

Sachs said police seek publicity for DUI efforts to further deter people from getting behind the wheel after drinking.

Yuba City police Sgt. Mike Green called it a zero-tolerance crackdown.

The effort is part of the Avoid the 9 campaign, which is funded by a grant from the state Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Administration.

During last year's Labor Day weekend, the CHP reported a total of 29 deaths related to drunken driving statewide, which they said was a 38 percent spike from 2010.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.