COSTA MESA : Police to Target Drunk Drivers

For New Year’s Eve, city police plan to do more of what they do often--arrest drunk drivers.

Sixteen officers and the police helicopter will be devoted entirely to pulling over holiday drunks. The city’s Driving Under the Influence Task Force will operate from 7:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. with two-man teams of officers patrolling the streets and the copter watching from above for suspiciously weaving motorists.

Normally, the city has a single two-man team of officers patrolling for drunk drivers. Over the past two years, the teams have logged more than 1,400 drunk driving arrests and won recognition from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, according to Sgt. Tom Winter.

For revelers who have had one drink too many on New Year’s Eve, Yellow Cab of North Orange County and Orange Coast Yellow Cab will be offering free rides home under a program sponsored by local beer and wine wholesalers, he said.