DUI Arrests Up Over Memorial Day Weekend

A total of 219 people suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs were arrested in Orange County during the three-day weekend, authorities said.

That's 18 more people than during last year's campaign to keep impaired drivers off the road, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Sobriety checkpoints, extra roving patrols and officers on routine patrol all focused on lowering the rate of injury or death due to intoxicated motorists over the holiday weekend.

The campaign began 12:01 a.m. Friday and wrapped up at midnight Monday.

Officers with 38 county law enforcement agencies played a role in the arrests, according to a statement from the sheriff's department.

While arrests were up, there were no fatalities in Orange County associated with impaired driving this Memorial Day weekend. In 2011, one fatality connected with drunk driving occured during the holiday weekend.

The numbers are provisional at the moment, as some agencies have yet to report, according to the department statement.

Law enforcement officials will conduct similar operations during the July 4th Independence Day holiday period and an 18-day stretch in August ending Labor Day weekend.

Officials from all law enforcement agencies involved encourage all motorists to watch and report impaired drivers each and every trip around town or during summer vacations by calling to 911.