During the holiday season, law enforcement is cracking down on drunk drivers. In Orange County alone, there were 340 DUI arrests and 4 DUI related fatalities between Dec. 17th and Dec. 26th. Statewide, over 658 DUI arrests were made over the Christmas weekend. The Automotive Club states that over "211,000 drivers were arrested for the offense" and "more than 27,000 people were killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes last weekend". With an increase of 18% since 2001 in DUI arrests, Orange County residence need to be aware of the dangers of drinking while driving. To raise awareness and protect drivers during the end of the year, the campaign "Avoid" is designed to maximizing enforcement through January 2nd. Together with California Highway Patrol and the Orange County Sheriff's Department, police departments will be making sure to keep drunk drivers off of the roads. Several agencies are providing free services to decrease the dangers of drunk driving.

• Automotive Club is offering a free Tipsy Tow service starting Dec. 31st at 6 p.m. to Jan. 1st, 6 a.m. Contact the Automotive Club at 1-800-400-4AAA for a free tow home up to 7 miles.
• Orange County Transportation Authority is offering free bus rides starting Dec. 31st at 6 p.m. to Jan. 1st, 2:30am

Keep yourself and those around you safe this holiday season by taking precautions before going out and drinking. Assign a friend as a designated driver or make prior arrangements in getting picked up. If needed, contact the Automotive Club or OCTA for free New Years Eve drunk driving services.

Issac Brott, 16 years old, died in a fatal car accident, in Novato, California, while four friends were rushed to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and Marin General Hospital. The fatal Marin DUI with accident took place on November 16, 2010., the The driver was only known as a local 15 year-old high school student. It is suspected that the fatal DUI with accident occurred when , in which the car spun out of control, hitting a tractor-trailer hauling cattle. The driver is facing charges of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing great bodily injury, DUI with blood-alcohol level of more than 0.08 and driving without a license, to which he later plead guilty later for to all charges. To conclude, what appeared to be a horrific night, the teen may face the remainder of his youthful years at juvenile hall or another custodial facility when the hearing is complete December 2, 2010. A fatal Santa Rosa DUI has tragic consequences for everyone involved. If you are under 21 years old there is a zero tolerance law that prohibits you from drinking any alcohol while driving. If you have a .01% BAC or higher you can face severe penalties through the Marin County Superior Court and California Department of Motor Vehicles. To find out more about your rights in a Santa Rosa drunk driving incident contact our team of knowledgeable DUI attorneys today.