Laguna Beach : Police Plan Extra Efforts to Reduce Drunk Driving

Responding to an increase in alcohol-related traffic arrests and accidents, including several that have claimed five lives in the past month, the Laguna Beach Police Department plans to begin cracking down on drunk driving.

Beginning this weekend and continuing for the next several weekends, extra police patrols will be on the streets prowling for partygoers and others who have had too much to drink, Police Chief Neil Purcell said. “Basically, we will be holding shifts over, and doing double shifts.” he said. “I want to get the word out that if you drive drunk in Laguna Beach, you’re going to jail.”

Over the last 30 days, Purcell said, the number of drunk-driving arrests made by Laguna Beach police has nearly doubled, from 22 in March to 40 in April. Purcell speculated that spring weather might be partly to blame. “They’re beginning to party earlier than usual this year, and we’ve seen an increase in the number of block parties,” he said. “It appears that the consumption of alcohol has increased, and so have the arrests.”

Under California law, anyone with a blood alcohol level of 0.10% is considered intoxicated. Purcell said residents who have had one too many can save themselves the trouble that accompanies a drunk-driving arrest by using the Police Department’s “tipsy taxi” program.