5 DUIs, 20 Hours: Wine Country Streets Rattle Overnight

PETALUMA, CA — Petaluma police moved swiftly across 24 hours, stopping drivers, responding to calls, and tracking down a crash that literally left a trail of evidence.

Police initiated one of the earliest stops just before 8 p.m. on Tuesday after spotting an illegal U-turn. Officers pulled over a 56-year-old Fairfield man, who admitted he was drinking inside his vehicle. After field sobriety tests, police arrested and booked him into the Sonoma County jail.

That same evening, officers stopped a 35-year-old Georgia man for a vehicle code violation. Officers identified signs of impairment during the stop and arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Meanwhile, officers responded to a separate report of a suspected intoxicated driver. They located the vehicle and stopped a 31-year-old woman, who registered a blood alcohol concentration more than twice the legal limit. Officers arrested her at the scene and transported her to jail.

Later that night, officers stopped a 53-year-old Woodside resident for a vehicle code violation. Officers again observed signs of alcohol intoxication and made an arrest.

The most dramatic case unfolded the next afternoon. At about 3:46 p.m. on Wednesday, officers responded after a vehicle struck a roundabout, shearing off its oil pan. Instead of a typical search, officers followed a visible oil trail through city streets — a path that led them directly to a 40-year-old Petaluma woman. Officers arrested her on suspicion of DUI before discovering she was already on felony probation.

Police said suspected impaired driving should be reported by calling 911 and drivers should use ride-share services, taxis, or sober drivers.