The California Highway Patrol was on high alert this Thanksgiving, ready to catch those who enjoyed too many cocktails with their turkey dinners.
In San Diego County, CHP officers arrested 42 people for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol between Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 6 a.m.
One person was killed in a DUI-related crash during that time.
The statistics were down compared to last year’s 61 arrests over the same period. Statewide, CHP reported 724 DUI arrests this year, compared to 840 in 2012.
Eleven people have died across California since Wednesday evening in alcohol- or drug-related crashes. At least eight of those killed were not wearing seat belts, and one was a pedestrian.
Wednesday night, San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 22 people for being drunk in public in the North County.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 728 people nationwide will be injured or killed each day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day in drunk driving accidents, a rate two to three times higher than the rest of the year.
