Crime & Safety

Super Bowl is Big Event for Law-Enforcement, Too

Dozens of additional officers and deputies will patrol the area in an attempt to keep drunken drivers off the roads.

Are you ready for some football?

Your Super Bowl game day list should include a designated driver, law-enforcement officials said. Drivers who drive drunk or buzz could find the next stop could be a jail cell.

Both Redlands and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s, which provides police services to Loma Linda, will join 23 other law-enforcement agencies in the area to put out dozens of added patrols.

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“We’re reminding everyone that real Super Bowl Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk,” said Redlands Police Chief Mark Garcia. “We are asking all party hosts and bar owners to take extra good care of designated sober drivers this year. Drafting a designated driver this weekend will be the correct play call for a sure win.”

The effort teams the National Football League, the California Office of Traffic Safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management Coalition.

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The Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk message supports the league-wide designated-driver campaign called Responsibility Has Its Rewards, Redlands officials said.

The 9-year-old campaign encourages fans to participate in designated-driver programs supported by beer and concessionaire companies at every NFL stadium nationwide, said Redlands Police officials.

The Responsibility Has Its Rewards Super Bowl XLVI winners were randomly selected Designated Drivers for the Season from the AFC Champion and NFC Champion teams. They attended the 2012 Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii, officials said.

According to law-enforcement statistics, in 2010, more than 10,000 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. In California, intoxicated drivers caused to 791 deaths.

Redlands Police have already started their efforts. Officers arrested one person on suspicion of driving under the influence during a sobriety checkpoint conducted on northbound Church Street between Brockton and Lugonia avenues Jan. 27. Sixty-three vehicles passed through the checkpoint. Two drivers were cited for driving without a license and two were cited for driving with suspended licenses.


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