Additional officers with the San Luis Obispo Police Department will be out on patrol Saturday from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
In a news release sent to KSBY, officials said the police department is "committed to keeping the public safe when they need to run essential errands."
"Safety is paramount, but especially during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Sergeant Jeff Booth. "We are all in this together and want everyone to be as safe as possible when they are out. One way to do that is by not driving impaired."
Officials said drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI will pay an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties and have their license suspended.
San Luis Obispo police officers want to remind community members that impaired driving is not just from alcohol — some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may also interfere with driving.
If community members plan on drinking or taking medications which may impact their ability to drive safely, plan on staying at home, officials said.
The California Office of Traffic Safety funded this program through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to the news release.
