Local Cops Beef Up Patrols for Cinco de Mayo

Santa Clara County law enforcement agencies are advising the public to have fun in a safe and responsible way on Cinco de Mayo.

Thirteen law enforcement agencies countywide are deploying extra units to patrol for drunken drivers.

Los Gatos Monte Sereno police spokesman Sgt. Kerry Harris said the local department would be fielding a dedicated DUI enforcement unit tonight. 

Harris said the department will have one extra officer on duty tonight doing nothing but DUI enforcement from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. and its regular patrol team  of three officers, a corporal, and a sergeant will also be paying special attention to DUI enforcement.

The Avoid the 13 DUI task force will also have extra patrols in the area and in Milpitas, Cupertino, Saratoga, Palo Alto, San Jose, and Los Altos Hills.

Units will look for drivers weaving out of lanes, making wide turns, failing to go at green lights, driving below the speed limit, and driving aggressively and recklessly, and other signs of intoxicated driving.

In San Jose, extra officers, on motorcycles and some possibly on horses, will patrol downtown as well as the Foothill division in East San Jose starting Thursday and throughout the weekend, San Jose police officer Jose Garcia said.

"We encourage everyone to come and enjoy themselves as long as they are responsible for themselves," Garcia said. "We will not tolerate anyone that is disorderly or creating a disturbance." 

He said he hopes the increased patrol will deter some of the problems that have plagued the city in the past, such as fights, stabbings, public intoxication, and vandalism of businesses and vehicles.

Cars will be prohibited from parking on Santa Clara Street to allow emergency vehicles to pass through and to prevent traffic hazards, Garcia said. Any vehicle that is found in violation will be towed.

Garcia said in the event that there is a large group of pedestrians in one area, police would close down certain streets and sidewalks and implement a plan to divert the pedestrians to other streets.

He advised people who are planning to drink to come with a designated driver or to arrange for someone to pick them up.

—Bay Bay City News Service