83 Arrested for Drunk Driving in O.C. in First Half of Holiday Weekend

Orange County law enforcement agencies deployed 38 deputies on special duty, and arrested 83 people for drunken driving in the
first 48 hours of a weekend crackdown, a deputy said today.

The enforcement period began 12:01 a.m. Friday and concluded 48 hours later. During that same window last year, there were 47 drunken driving arrests.

There have been no traffic deaths caused by drunken drivers reported so far in Orange County during the enforcement period, said Deputy Wayne Howard of the Orange County Sheriff's Department Traffic Bureau.

"We will continue our enforcement efforts through the holiday weekend,'' Howard said. "Hopefully, people will realize the seriousness of this problem, utilize some common sense and be responsible by using a designated driver or doing their celebrating at home.''

Concentrated patrols will continue through the Independence Day
festivities Monday night, he said.