Turlock continues sober drive program

For the fifth year, the Turlock Police Department will administer Stanislaus County's "Avoid the 12" program. The Turlock City Council this week approved the city's participation in the effort.

"Avoid the 12" is a reference to the area's law enforcement agencies, which work together in targeted operations through a $188,0000 grant by the state Office of Traffic Safety.

Activities include checkpoints to screen for people driving under the influence, saturation patrols and stepped-up staffing during holiday periods when more people tend to be drinking and driving. Authorities also conduct warrant sweeps and probation searches, as well as court stings for repeat offenders, in which officers catch those with suspended licenses as they drive away from a hearing in their case.

Several events, including checkpoints and increased patrols, are scheduled over the next two weeks.

In a report to the council, Turlock Police Capt. Carl Nielsen said: "The results of the combined enforcement and education efforts have resulted in a 50 percent decrease in DUI-related injury collisions as well as a 59 percent decrease in DUI-related deaths since 2007."