Weekend Sees Jump in Drunk Driving Arrests

The Santa Clarita Valley experienced an unusually sharp spike in drunk driving arrests during the weekend, likely fueled by holiday partying, authorities said.

In the 24-hour period ending at 1 a.m. Sunday, sheriff’s deputies and CHP officers arrested 15 drunk drivers, which is four to five times more than usual, said Sheriff’s Sgt. Robert Norlemann of the Santa Clarita Valley station.

The arrests came through routine enforcement, without special sweeps or sobriety checkpoints, Norlemann said. One or two arrests involved minor accidents.

But even if a drunk driver doesn’t kill someone or cause injuries, there are serious consequences, Norlemann said. If caught, the driver can spend hours in jail and then must appear in court. A drunk driving conviction often means the loss of some or all driving privileges, and drivers involved in accidents can face even more jail time.

“People need to be careful,” Norlemann said. “This is the season of good cheer, but you gotta be careful with your cheers.”