The California Highway Patrol (CHP) increased surveillance on Super Bowl Sunday through a new initiative.
Officer Salvador Castro warned that "the first time a driver is arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it costs about $15,000."
The losses increase for repeat offenders, he said, even if they are stopped without causing an accident.
According to Officer Castro, fans gather to toast many times before the Super Bowl begins and, excitedly, drink some more during the game.
"To make a long story short, if you get caught under the influence it's going to cost you about $15,000, but if you cause an accident and there are injuries or someone is killed, you're probably going to face much bigger expenses and spend some time in jail,” Castro said.
During the 2021 Super Bowl, the CHP stopped 229 drivers under the influence.
Along with other law enforcement agencies, the CHP has warned that the influence can also be from taking medications or drugs.
Some measures that some people take to prevent problems if they plan to consume alcoholic beverages is to rely on a designated driver, or transportation services such as taxis, Uber or Lift, among others.
The county sheriff's office also announced its increased surveillance operation from 3 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday.
