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Police DUI crackdown nets 62 arrests countywide
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A total of 62 drivers have been arrested for drunken or drugged driving in Stanislaus County during the summer "Avoid the 12" operation since Aug. 15.

The county's 12 law enforcement agencies have been cracking down on DUI drivers and also netted the arrests of 38 persons for outstanding DUI warrants.

During the same 10-day enforcement period in 2013, 84 DUI arrests occurred.

At 9:11 p.m. on Sunday an "Avoid the 12" officer working DUI saturation patrol in the city of Modesto stopped a vehicle for erratic driving in the area of Orangeburg and College avenues. During the course of the investigation the officer determined the driver was under the influence of a Central Nervous System stimulant (possibly methamphetamine) as well as prescription drugs. The driver was arrested for DUI and was identified as 36-year-old Raquel Smith. A search of Smith's vehicle revealed a baggie of methamphetamine, a methamphetamine smoking pipe, and narcotic pills without a prescription. Smith was also charged with felony drug charges and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center.

In another incident at 11:43 a.m. a Modesto Police officer observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on McHenry Avenue at Morris. The vehicle nearly collided into the rear of another vehicle that was stopped at the intersection for a red light. A vehicle stop was made and the driver was identified as 26-year-old Aaron Stokes. It was determined that Stokes was driving under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for DUI. Stokes also was driving on a suspended license and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Stokes was booked on all charges into the Stanislaus County Jail.

Over the course of the next several days of the campaign there are no special operations planned until Thursday. All regularly scheduled traffic and patrol officers will focus efforts at stopping and arresting DUI drivers during their normal shifts.

DUI arrest data collection will continue through Labor Day midnight Monday, Sept. 1. Avoid programs, named for the number of police agencies in each county, will deploy Multiple/DUI Driver's License Checkpoints, Multi Agency DUI Task Force operations and local Roving DUI patrols are set region wide during 18-day Summer/Labor Day Campaign.