Police Officers Worked Hard Over Holidays

Law enforcement officers across the nation logged in extra hours to get drunk drivers off the roads and generally maintain order and safety this holiday season.

In Maryland, State troopers conducted enhanced traffic and criminal enforcement operations. “Operation Santa Claus” resulted in the arrest of almost 150 people for driving under the influence. Almost 100 people were arrested for a multitude of criminal violations. Troopers also located and arrested more than 100 people who were wanted on outstanding warrants.

In Northern California’s Sonoma, Alameda, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties, the “Avoid” program, which was also successful, used extra resources to man the streets. The campaigns involved 32 sobriety checkpoints, six days of maximum enforcement by the California Highway Patrol, 10 nights of regional high-intensity saturation strike teams, in-city DUI teams, and emphasis on DUI enforcement with officers on regular beats. Similar programs operate during the long weekends surrounding Independence Day and Labor Day.