Avoid the Cinco de DUI

In La Cañada it's easy to celebrate Cinco de Mayo without even leaving Foothill Boulevard.

A holiday that started in Mexico, commemorating the Mexican army’s surprise defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla back in 1862, the date has evolved into a day of celebrating freedom - again and again and again.

But by that third toast of tequila, you better find a designated driver.

On Thursday, as you drink in margarita merriment, the Los Angeles County Avoid the 100 DUI Task Force will deploy overtime patrols onto streets while the California Highway Patrol will saturate the freeways and unincorporated communities, according to Deputy Daniel Dail of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department's Traffic Services Detail Risk Management Bureau. 

In the Crescenta Valley, patrol deputies, as always, will look for drunk drivers and take action when warranted, said Capt. Dave Silversparre of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station.  "Please drink responsibly and have a designated driver so everyone arrives home safely. ”

At , patrons don’t tend to get too riled up, said Carlos Martinez, one of the managers at the family restaurant. 

“But if they have too many, and start acting all crazy, we will take their keys away,’’ he said, adding someone from the restaurant will give the person a ride, call a cab or look for another patron with whom the person could ride home.

The closest cab company to La Cañada is Yellow Cab Company 626-796-8294.

The Sheriff's Department offers these tips for celebrating responsibly:

• Arrange rides home for your friends, family, co-workers and yourself before the drinking begins.

• Identify and provide free non-alcoholic drinks or other promotional items to the Designated Driver.

• Don’t serve more than one or two over several hours. 

•
 Cut back on the amount of drinks you plan to bring to the party – and provide plenty of food.

• If you see a drunk driver, call 911