CHULA VISTA – District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis was among several of the region's top cops who warned motorists yesterday that if they drink and drive during the Fourth of July weekend, they'll be caught and prosecuted.
“Last year, we charged more than 11,000 motorists with driving drunk and we had a 98 percent conviction rate,” Dumanis said during a press conference at Chula Vista police headquarters. She was joined by the San Diego chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other law enforcement agencies.
“So our message is: If you drive drunk, you'll be caught and you'll be held responsible,” Dumanis said.
Pat Hodgkin, executive director of MADD's San Diego County chapter, said more than 17,000 people are killed nationwide each year during crashes caused by “impaired driving.”
Hodgkin highlighted plans for a noncompetitive, 3.1-mile walk on Sept. 20 at Chula Vista's Bayside Park, by the J Street Marina, to help raise funds for MADD. More details may be obtained by calling (760) 746-6233, or by visiting www.maddsandiego.org/
San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne and Chief Gary Dominguez, who heads the San Diego-based Border Division for the California Highway Patrol, said they are among 16 agencies countywide that will be looking for drunk motorists this weekend.
“ 'If you drink, don't drive,' ” is the message from all of us in law enforcement,” Lansdowne said. “Take a cab, take transit or designate a driver.”
Mark Arner: (619) 542-4556; mark.arner@uniontrib.com
