County To Consider Anti-Drunken Driving Campaign

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is looking at a campaign to raise awareness and prevention of driving under the influence.

Tuesday, during its regularly scheduled meeting, the board will consider a resolution to make December 2012 “National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.”

The intent of the proposed resolution is to “increase public awareness of the adverse effects of alcohol and drug use on drivers, even at minimal consumption levels, and to create safer highways …”

According to county documents, in 2009 there were 10,873 driving under the influence arrests in the county.

The county’s Department of Mental Health put the issue before the board with an underlying message that suggests a rethink on what is an acceptable blood alcohol concentration.

“Many drivers may be unaware their driving abilities can be seriously impaired by the use of alcohol and drugs even though their blood alcohol levels register below California Driving Under the Influence Standards,” according to the county documents.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles website states that it is illegal for any person to operate a vehicle with a:

• BAC of 0.08 percent or higher, if the person is age 21 or older
• BAC of 0.01 percent or higher, if the person is under age 21
• BAC of 0.01 percent or higher at any age, if the person is on Driving Under the Influence (DUI) probation
• BAC of 0.04 percent or higher, in any vehicle requiring a commercial driver license

"The DMV can take an administrative action against your driving privilege after you are detained or arrested, and the court may take a separate action (suspend, revoke, or delay the driver license) for the same offense. DMV’s action is related only to your driving privilege. The court’s action may involve the payment of a fine, jail time, suspension or revocation of your driving privilege, and completion of a DUI program," according to the DMV's website.

No county funding is being proposed for the December campaign, according to the county documents.

Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the County Administrative Center, First Floor, 4080 Lemon Street, Riverside.