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Crime & Safety

Nearly Five Dozen Arrested for Suspected Drunken Driving During Holiday

Additional checkpoints and saturation patrols are planned between now and Sunday-- including in Beaumont.

A total of 59 motorists were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence throughout Riverside County during an Independence Day anti-DUI campaign, authorities said Thursday.

The "Avoid the 30" campaign -- named for the number of area police agencies involved -- began Tuesday evening and concluded at midnight last night.

The effort coincided with the California Highway Patrol's "maximum enforcement period," during which 80 percent of the agency's officers hit the streets to nab impaired drivers, speeders and other traffic violators.

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According to Riverside police Sgt. Skip Showalter, the Avoid coordinator, three sobriety checkpoints were set up and three saturation patrols were conducted, netting the nearly five dozen arrests.

Last year's Fourth of July anti-DUI effort resulted in 182 arrests, but that campaign spanned more than three days.

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According to the Riverside CHP, officers issued 238 citations for speeding, texting while driving and similar violations during the MEP. Fourteen non-fatal collisions were reported, said CHP Officer Steve Carapia.

Between now and Sunday, additional checkpoints and saturation patrols are planned in Beaumont, Corona, Lake Elsinore, Lake Perris, La Quinta, Menifee, Moreno Valley and Palm Springs, according to Showalter.

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