More than 750 arrested during countywide DUI crackdown

More than 750 people were arrested in Riverside County on suspicion of driving under the influence during a nearly three-week crackdown, authorities said.

More than 750 people were arrested in Riverside County on suspicion of driving under the influence during a nearly three-week crackdown. (Flickr: Tobo/Creative Commons)

The end-of-summer operation netted 759 arrests, compared to 693 during the same period a year ago, according to Riverside police Sgt. Skip Showalter, the operation’s coordinator.

The campaign began Aug. 19 and concluded Monday night.

“Tragically, there was a death attributed to a drunk driver in our area,” Showalter said. “Last year, there were no DUI deaths reported.”

The operation was part of a national campaign called “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” Showalter said.

Countywide anti-DUI operations included sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols in Coachella, Corona, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Lake Elsinore, Palm Springs, Perris, Riverside, San Jacinto and Temecula.