DUI Checkpoints Out Around Contra Costa

Be thankful. Eat hearty. Drink. But don't drink and drive.

Don't drink and drive because it's dangerous. Also, don't drink and drive because law enforcement will be out in force for the rest of this week and into the holiday season.

The 'Avoid the 25' DUI Task Force in Contra Costa County will be posting DUI/driver license checkpoints around the county. Twenty-five refers to the number of municipalities participating.

The task force recently received a $120,000 grant from the state Office of Traffic Safety, according to a news release from the sheriff's department. A large part of grant funding will go to DUI/Drivers License Checkpoints – visible, publicized events not only meant to make arrests, but to deter impaired driving in the first place.

“The Avoid the 25 DUI Task Force is so named to send a simple, but potentially life-saving message: If you don’t drink or use drugs and drive, you will avoid being arrested by any of the 25 participating law enforcement agencies in our county,” said Contra Costa County Sheriff David O. Livingston.

Additionally, funding will target the ‘worst of the worst’ repeat DUI offenders with Warrant/Probation Sweeps and Court Sting Enforcement Operations focusing on DUI offenders who leave court hearings and drive away on suspended licenses after being ordered not to drive by a judge.