Long Beach officers will join multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the region, beginning this Friday, in looking out for drunk and drugged drivers as part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization campaign.

“Beginning December 16th and continuing into the new year, you will see stepped up traffic enforcement with officers watching closely for impaired drivers,” said Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) Chief Robert Luna in a statement. “We want to keep our roads safe for holiday travelers and will have zero tolerance for drunk or drugged driving.”

As part of the year-end campaign, police, sheriff and California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers will deploy DUI checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols during a 17-day DUI crackdown period throughout the region, beginning Friday, December 16.

In Long Beach, police will conduct a DUI checkpoint on Friday from 7:00PM to 3:00AM and a DUI saturation patrol on Friday, December 23, LBPD officials stated.

Authorities warn that prescription medication, marijuana or illicit drugs can impair judgment and get motorists the same DUI arrests as alcohol.

“Nationally in 2014, 32,675 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes with 9,967 people killed in crashes involving an impaired driver,” officials stated. “In California, total highway deaths were reported at 3,126 with 1,155 lives lost in alcohol and/or drug impaired collisions.”

Those caught can expect to face jail time, fines, loss of their driver’s license, towing fees, and other DUI expenses, totaling $10,000 on average.

“Driving under the influence is not only costly, but can ruin the holidays for you, your family or for someone else’s family,” said state Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Director Rhonda Craft. “Make the decision to drive sober or use our DDVIP app to help you find a safe ride home for yourself or your friends if you know they’ve been drinking.”

Drivers can download the Designated Driver VIP, or “DDVIP,” free mobile app for Android or iPhone, which helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver, such as free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers and more, officials stated.

The holiday enforcement campaign is provided by a grant from the OTS, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Stephanie Rivera is the community engagement editor. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @StephRivera88.