San Luis police on the lookout for drunken drivers over holidays

SAN LUIS, Ariz. — Drive drunk in this town and you risk going to jail.

And depending on when you get arrested, you may be spending the holidays behind bars.

The San Luis Police Department says it's putting extra officers on the city's main thoroughfares and setting up checkpoints in selected locations to catch motorists who drive under the influence of alcohol.

The crackdown began Wednesday, police said, and will continue through Jan. 1. “Fortunately, in San Luis there have been no deaths caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol,” police spokesman Tadeo de la Hoya said. “We want that to continue.”

A grant from the Governor's Office for Highway Safety is allowing the police department to launch the operation, which it has dubbed “Drive Drunk and Get Arrested,” or “Maneja Tomado y Serás Arrestada.”

Aside from jail and suspension of their drivers' licenses, motorists found driving with a blood-alchohol level of 0.08 to 0.19 face a minimum fine of $1,633.60. Those at the level of 0.20 or greater face a fine of at least $2,913.

Aside from looking out for drunken drivers, officers will be watching for jaywalkers, speeders and motorists who disobey traffic control devices.

Also, they will be trying to catch anyone who shoots guns or firearms to mark the arrival of the new year, De La Hoya said.