GARDEN GROVE : Police Plan Patrols for Drunk Drivers

Police will operate special drunk-driving patrols until the end of December in an effort to get impaired drivers off city streets. Officers warn that people arrested on suspicion of drunk driving will lose their driver’s license and have their vehicles impounded.

Police also will set up sobriety checkpoints at 3 p.m. today at two locations--Palm Street at Harbor Boulevard and Benton Street at Garden Grove Boulevard. The checkpoints will be in effect until 3 a.m. Saturday.

The special drunk-driving patrols will be in force Tuesdays through Sundays from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. The patrols consist of nine motorcycle officers and a number of patrol officers who will seek out drivers who appear to be under the influence.

“Drunk drivers are always a concern,” said Sgt. Jack Ray of the Garden Grove traffic division. “However, during the holidays, we typically see an increase in the number of impaired drivers. We attribute this increase to the tendency for some people to imbibe in too much Christmas cheer and then get behind the wheel of their vehicle.”

Ray said a police crackdown against drunk drivers in the city has resulted in a 66% increase in drunk-driving arrests over 1991 and a 53% reduction in collisions involving drunk drivers.

There has been only one traffic fatality involving an impaired driver in 1992, he said.