RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Super Bowl celebrants planning to consume alcoholic
beverages during the big game Sunday should stay off Riverside County roads
unless they’re sober, or else they could be arrested in any one of a number of
anti-DUI operations planned countywide, sheriff’s officials said today.
Saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints are scheduled before,
during and after Super Bowl LVII, pitting the Kansas City Chiefs against the
Philadelphia Eagles.
“We want the football fans in our community to enjoy Super Bowl
festivities, but we also want responsible drivers on our roads,” Sgt. William
Pratt said. “Before you grab a drink, make sure your game plan includes
scheduling a ride-share or designating a sober driver. Choosing a safer way to
go is something we can all root for.”
Operations are scheduled in Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, La Quinta, Lake
Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Norco, Perris, Temecula and Wildomar.
“The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department reminds the public that
alcohol is not the only substance that impairs,” according to a sheriff’s
statement. “Marijuana, prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may
also impair your ability to drive safely.”
The California Highway Patrol, too, is planning to step up enforcement
efforts to nab DUI suspects.
“When it comes to getting to and from places safely, we’re all on the
same team,” sheriff’s Deputy Ernest Telles said. “The choice is simple:
Don’t drive impaired.”
Public safety officials offered the following tips to people planning
to host Super Bowl parties:
— ensure guests have a designated driver or can arrange for ride-sharing;
— serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the party;
— stop serving alcohol before the end of the game’s third quarter; and
— take the keys away from guests showing signs of impairment, then
call them a cab or arrange for transportation via Lyft, Uber or other services.
Under state law, anyone with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher
is considered impaired.
Authorities said penalties for anyone convicted of a DUI offense can
include suspension or revocation of driving privileges, steep fines, jail time
and prison if there are injuries involved.
Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.
