Santa Barbara County Had DUI-Free Cinco De Mayo

On a holiday typically celebrated with beer and tequila, Santa Barbara County’s anti-drunk driving force, Avoid the 12, surprisingly apprehended no one for driving under the influence during Cinco de Mayo festivities. After deciding they had enough officers to cover the Jesusita fire, Sheriff’s deputies and officers from Santa Maria, Lompoc, and the Santa Maria CHP led a crackdown in Guadalupe and Orcutt. Although 45 traffic stops were made and twelve people were evaluated for possible DUI, no arrests were made. The only notable citations given out were to two unlicensed drivers.

Avoid the 12 is a campaign between the twelve law enforcement agencies in Santa Barbara County to stop drunk drivers. “We aim our DUI enforcement efforts at holidays that many people traditionally celebrate with alcohol,” Deputy Win Smith of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department was quoted as saying in a press release.

For comparison’s sake, ten people were arrested at checkpoint in Santa Barbara on St. Patrick’s Day. Avoid the 12 has vowed to remain vigilant on the road during the Memorial Day Weekend.