The Long Beach Police Department’s (LBPD) DUI Enforcement Team will deploy a DUI Saturation Patrol this Saturday between 7:00PM and 3:00AM, according to the announcement released this week.

LBPD officers will target areas with high frequencies of DUI-caused collisions and/or arrests, looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment and checking for proper licensing. Specially trained officers will also evaluate those suspected of driving under the influence of drugs, the crime now accounting for a growing number of crashes, according to the release.

Statistics show that 30 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems, while one study showed more active drivers tested positive for drugs that impair driving than for alcohol, marijuana being one of them, according to the announcement. The LBPD emphasized being mindful of any prescription or over-the-counter medications, which can greatly impair driving when even small amounts of alcohol are consumed with them.

In California in 2013 alone, driving under the influence has led to 867 deaths and over 23,000 serious injuries, while LBPD officers have investigated 1,032 DUI collisions, seven deaths and 370 injuries. Nationally, over 10,000 have been killed by an impaired driver, according to the release.

Download the California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP (Designated Driver VIP) mobile app on your iOS or Android device to receive free incentives from participating bars and restaurants for committing to the life-saving role.

Funding for this DUI operation is provided to the Long Beach Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1’.