The Avoid DUI Task Force Is Cracking Down on Drunk Driving This July Fourth

The Fourth of July holiday is a favorite time of year for many Americans. Backyard 

parties, good food, and fireworks. But the celebrating unfortunately turns deadly when 

people drive after drinking alcohol.  Drunk driving is a preventable problem on 

Independence Day each year in the United States.

In 2013, Forbes magazine named the Independence Day holiday “the most dangerous 

holiday of the year.” 

This year, the Fourth comes on a Saturday, so Friday, July 3, is the Federal holiday and 

observance. That means the Fourth of July weekend starts at 6 p.m. Thursday and extends 

to 5:59 a.m. Monday morning, July 6.

In 2013, there were 512 people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the Fourth of 

July holiday (6 p.m. July 3rd through 5:59 a.m. July 8th). Of those fatalities, 199 (39%) 

occurred in crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood 

alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher.

During the July Fourth holiday period in 2013, the rate of alcohol impairment among 

drivers involved in fatal crashes was over three times higher at night than during the day.

In fatal crashes during the July Fourth period in 2013, more than one-fifth (21%) of 

involved drivers or motorcycle operators had BACs of .15 or higher—almost twice the 

legal limit.

During the Fourth of July 2013 holiday period, almost half (45%) of the young drivers 

(18 to 34 years old) killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes were alcohol-impaired (BAC 

of .08 g/dL or higher). 

This Fourth of July, law enforcement in Ione is taking part in a crackdown to put an end 

to drunk driving. The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign will mean increased 

enforcement with zero tolerance for those who drive impaired. 

Throughout the region, drivers should expect to see the police out in force, cracking 

down on drunk driving through increased sobriety checkpoints, roving and saturation 

patrols, and other enforcement efforts. 

Unfortunately, these enforcement campaigns are necessary—drunk driving is an

epidemic in our nation. In 2013, there were 10,076 people killed in drunk-driving 

crashes. That’s almost one third of all traffic fatalities nationwide. 

In all 50 States and the District of Columbia, it’s illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 g/dL 

or higher. In fatal crashes in 2013, almost one in seven drivers (14%) had BACs at or 

above .15 g/dL – almost twice the legal limit.

The tragic reality is that drunk driving isn’t a new concern: during the Fourth of July 

holiday periods from 2009 to 2013, there were 750 people killed in impaired-driving 

crashes.

And from 2012 to 2013, the number of overall drunk-driving-crash fatalities decreased by 

2.5 percent in the United States—from 10,336 people killed in 2012 to 10,076 in 2013.

Of the 10,076 people who died in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in 2013, 6,515 (65%) 

were drivers with BACs of .08 or higher. The remaining fatalities consisted of 2,724 

motor vehicle occupants (27%) and 837 nonoccupants (8%).

Make a Plan to Get Home Safely This Fourth of July. “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

If you drive drunk, you not only put your life and the lives of others at risk, you could face a DUI 

arrest. The average DUI costs $10,000, making it difficult to recover financially. 

Arrested drunk drivers face jail time, the loss of their driver licenses, higher insurance rates, and 

dozens of other unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, fines and court costs, car towing and 

repairs, lost time at work, etc.

Avoid Drunk Driving Altogether.

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

long:

Plan a safe way home before the fun begins.

Before drinking, designate a sober driver.

DDVIP: The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP mobile app is now available for 

free download on iOS and Android devices. Launched last year, the new DDVIP app 

offers enhanced features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to 

find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to search all 

participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Users can stay up-to-date with 

the latest from DDVIP and see what other users are saying via its social tab. Also through 

the app, for those who want to imbibe but also make it a point to plan ahead, users can 

easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen.  

DRUGS, MEDICATION & ALCOHOL= CRASHES:  Recent statistics reveal that 30 

percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems.  A study of 

active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) 

than did for alcohol (7.3 percent).  Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 

percent, slightly more than alcohol.

If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate “Report Drunk Drivers! 

Call 911!”

If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take your friend’s 

keys and help your friend make other arrangements to get to where he or she is going 

safely. 

Whether you’ve had way too many or just one too many, it’s never worth the risk to drive 

impaired. There’s always another way home. This Fourth of July, if law enforcement pulls you 

over for drunk driving, you will be arrested. 

For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit 

www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.

This Fourth of July, ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ by

The Ione Police Department

Ione, CA – The Fourth of July is one of America’s favorite holidays. And why not? Families and friends 

gather to celebrate our country with food, parades, parties, picnics and fireworks. 

And yet there is a very dark side to this great holiday. For many, the celebration includes alcohol, and the 

holiday can quickly go from festive to fatal when people choose to drive after drinking. From 2009-2013, 

nearly 40 percent of ALL traffic fatalities over the Fourth of July period occurred in alcohol-impaired-

driving crashes. Of the five major holiday periods of the year in California, the Fourth of July ranks as 

having the highest daily fatality rate.

Over the Fourth of July holiday period in 2013 alone (6 p.m. July 3rd to 5:59 a.m. July 8th), there were 199 

people killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes on our nation’s roads, according to the National 

Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In California, 28 individuals were killed in Alcohol 

Involved crashes.

To crack down on drunk driving this Fourth of July, the Ione Police Department will be out in full force, 

aggressively targeting those who put lives in danger. DUI Saturation Patrols will be deployed during the 

holiday weekend and all patrol officers will be alert to the tell tale signs of an impaired driver

NHTSA data shows that 10,076 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in the United States in 

2013—representing almost a third of all crash fatalities. By comparison, during the July Fourth period 

that year, 39 percent of all crash fatalities involved alcohol-impaired drivers. 

The rate of high-BAC impaired driving is astounding. In fatal crashes during the July Fourth period in 

2013, more than one-fifth (21%) of involved drivers or motorcycle operators had BACs of .15 or 

higher—almost twice the legal limit.

NHTSA data also reveals that 35 percent of young drivers (18 to 34 years old) were driving drunk (BAC 

of .08 or higher) in fatal crashes over the July Fourth period in 2013. Motorcycle operators are also 

overrepresented as the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers in fatal crashes. In 2013, more than 

one-quarter (27%) of motorcycle operators in fatal crashes had BACs of .08 or higher. 

Drunk drivers are more common at night, too. Over the July 4th holiday in 2013, more than two fifths 

(42%) of the drivers in nighttime fatal crashes (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) were alcohol-impaired, as compared 

to 13 percent of drivers in fatal crashes during the day. 

If you’re caught driving drunk or drug impaired, you will be arrested. Aside from putting your life and the 

lives of others at risk, driving impaired can also lead to serious consequences. A DUI arrest can mean 

time in jail, loss of your license, and steep financial expenses; the average DUI costs about $10,000. 

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

long:

Plan a safe way home before the fun begins.

Before drinking, designate a sober driver.

DDVIP: The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP mobile app is now available for free 

download on iOS and Android devices. Launched last year, the new DDVIP app offers enhanced 

features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to find DDVIP partnering 

establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to search all participating bars and restaurants 

throughout California. Users can stay up-to-date with the latest from DDVIP and see what other 

users are saying via its social tab. Also through the app, for those who want to imbibe but also 

make it a point to plan ahead, users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all 

from one screen.  

DRUGS, MEDICATION & ALCOHOL= CRASHES:  Recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of 

drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems.  A study of active drivers showed 

more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 

percent).  Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.

If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate “Report Drunk Drivers! Call 911!”

If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take your friend’s keys and 

help your friend make other arrangements to get to where he or she is going safely. 

Funding for the special DUI operation is by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through 

the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  The Avoid DUI Task Force will deploy checkpoints 

and DUI patrols next during the August/Labor Day DUI Mobilization.

CONTACT:  Chief Tracy Busby, Ione Police Chief (209) 274-2456 Ext 108  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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