The midweek July 4th holiday is over, but police will continue stepped-up patrols for intoxicated drivers into this weekend, officials said.
"With Independence Day falling on a Wednesday, many in our community will be taking the rest of the week off, so DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols will be out in force throughout the weekend in Orange County," a Sheriff's Department press release stated.
So far, arrests totals are lower this year. During the 48-hour period from 12:01 a.m. Tuesday to midnight Wednesday, officers from the California Highway Patrol and three dozen local law enforcement agencies arrested 78 people on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
In 2011, the final two days of the July 4 holiday netted 107 DUI arrests in Orange County. However the 2011 stats were part of a five-day crackdown and officials said comparisons with 2012 shouldn't be made.
In other noteworthy holiday action, on Independence Day, most for public intoxication.
