CHP nets 21 DUI arrests in the Antelope Valley

LANCASTER – The California Highway Patrol conducted roving patrols in the Antelope Valley this past weekend as part of an effort to keep the motoring public safe during the 79th annual Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival.

The CHP’s  Impaired Driver Task Force (IDTF) deployed on the night of Saturday, Aug. 19, throughout the Antelope Valley and was “extremely successful in removing impaired drivers from the road,” according to CHP Officer Gil Hernandez.

“The IDTF detail resulted in 16 DUI arrests through the early hours of Sunday morning…,” Hernandez said in a news release.

“Additional CHP units were deployed on Friday Aug. 18, 2017, and on Sunday Aug. 20, 2017,” Hernandez added. “A total of 21 DUI arrests were made during the first weekend of the Antelope Valley Fair.” 

“Anytime we take an impaired driver off the road, we are potentially saving lives,” stated Captain Eric A. Broneer, Commander of the Antelope Valley Area Office. “You can rest assured, that if you drive under the influence of any substance, the CHP will stop you, arrest you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

The California Highway Patrol encourages everyone to celebrate and enjoy the Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival by doing so responsibly.

A DUI crash or arrest can be averted in a number of ways, advises the CHP, which issued the following tips to local residents:

• Refrain from drinking if you are the driver.
• Ride with someone who has not been drinking.
• Use public transportation or call a taxi or a friend if you have been drinking.
• Select a designated driver.

For more information, contact CHP Antelope Valley Officer Gil Hernandez at 661-948-8541.

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