Napa Cops Stage Memorial Day Weekend DUI "Blitz"

Napa police and the City of Napa are warning motorists that there will be saturation enforcement of DUI laws throughout the Memorial Day weekend.

According to a press release from Sgt. Paul Paniagua, who heads up traffic enforcement for the Napa Police Department,

The Memorial Day weekend is the first holiday travel period of the summer season and this, coupled with many college and high school graduations, will see friends and families gathering to celebrate, often with alcohol. Law enforcement is reminding everyone to make plans now for those weekend trips and celebrations to use a ‘Designated Driver’ to avert arrest or worse, a deadly drunk driving tragedy.

The enforcement blitz begins Friday night with DUI/Drivers License checkpoint in the city of Napa with special DUI Saturation Patrols deploying in the city of Napa. 

More local DUI Saturation Patrols will be out on Saturday and Sunday nights on the cities of American Canyon, St. Helena, and Calistoga. 

The California Highway Patrol will also be out in force Memorial Day weekend, Paniagua said, continuing:

Law enforcement region-wide are asking for everyone’s support this holiday weekend and all summer:

• Arrange rides home for your friends, family, co-workers and yourself before the drinking begins
• Those hosting celebrations and servers must limit drinks to your guests or patrons.  Don’t serve more than one or two over several hours.
• Identify and provide free non-alcoholic drinks to the Designated Driver
• Cut back on the amount of drinks you plan to bring to the party – and provide plenty of food.
• If you see dangerous driving, Report Drunk Drivers – Call 9-1-1!

Paniagua said the saturation enforcement campaign is funded through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

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