Nature of Incident: Holiday Season Winter Mobilization
Report Number:
Location: Cities of Camarillo, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks
Date & Time: December 14, 2018 through January 1, 2019
Unit(s) Responsible: Camarillo Police – Traffic Bureau
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
Narrative:
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is helping keep roadways safe over Christmas/New Year’s holidays
The Christmas and New Year’s holidays are ways to spend time with family and friends ringing in another
year, but also a time when people can make poor choices that put themselves and others at risk on the road.
To help spread the message about the dangers of drunk and drugged driving, the Ventura County Sheriff’s
Office is partnering with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) to get impaired drivers off roads.
During the high-visibility enforcement campaign Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, which runs from Dec.
14-Jan. 1, The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office will have more officers on the road conducting saturation
patrols looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
In addition, the Thousand Oaks Police Department will hold a DUI checkpoint on December 15th at an
undisclosed location within Thousand Oaks city limits looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment,
as well as checking drivers for proper licensing.
“Whether you are home with family or at the bar, it is important that you find a sober ride home after
drinking,” said Captain Jeremy Paris. “As an adult, it is up to you to make adult decisions and drive sober
or use a ride share service. There are no excuses for driving impaired.”
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office also reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.”
Marijuana, prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications can also be impairing, especially in
combination with alcohol or other drugs.
During the 2017 Christmas (Dec. 22-25) and New Year’s (Dec. 30-Jan. 2) holiday periods, 25 people were
killed and 643 injured on California roads, according to data from the California Highway Patrol (CHP)
Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS).
“Drunk driving continues to be a huge problem in this country, and more recently, marijuana and drugimpaired
driving,” said Captain Jeremy Paris. “People are out and about shopping for the holidays and
going to or hosting parties, so it is important that everyone acts responsibly behind the wheel.”
Funding for impaired driving enforcement operations are provided by a grant from the California Office of
Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Prepared by: Sergeant Paul Richards
News Release Date: 12/10/18
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Paul Richards 805-388-5132
paul.richards@ventura.org
805-797-6398
Approved by: Captain Jeremy Paris
