FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Fresno Police are issuing a warning to drivers as the department cracks down on drunk driving this weekend.
“The biggest thing is, don’t risk it,” Sergeant Todd Turney told Action News.
Eleven extra officers will be out, specifically patrolling for drunk drivers.
“They’re out there looking for traffic violations that are common to people operating vehicles under the influence, such as weaving, speeding,” Sgt. Turney said.
The operation begins at 6 P.M. on Saturday and goes until 4 A.M. on Sunday.
It will extend throughout the city, happening as many finish celebrating the holidays…
“We do select these around the holiday weekends, whenever we see an increase of people coming back to the cities,” Sgt. Turney said.
Just this week, the California Highway Patrol says drunk driving took the lives of a Coalinga husband and wife.
RELATED: Husband and wife killed by suspected DUI driver in Fresno County identified
Investigators say Shawn Borecha tried to pass two cars while drunk, and instead crashed into oncoming traffic, killing Carlos and Maria Pimentel on Monday.
The Riverside man is now charged with two counts of murder.
Across the county, prosecutors ended 2025 with more than 5,500 DUI cases.
423 of them are considered felonies that caused “great” injury, and eight of them were charged as murder.
The preventable crashes, prosecutors say, killed 15 victims.
“When you impair your ability to operate the vehicle, bad things happen, such as (a) collision,” Sgt. Turney said. “You can affect people and members of the community, as well as yourself.”
The average cost of a DUI is more than $13,000 in fines and penalties for a first-time offense, as well as a suspended license.
“Plan ahead, whether it’s a ride share service, it’s a family member, it’s a friend, a close acquaintance, plan ahead and try and get to the to location and away – back home – safely,” Sgt. Turney said.
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