4 Petaluma DUI Arrests In 1 Day: Just Say 'Rideshare' This Weekend

PETALUMA, CA —After a weekend of multiple DUI arrests and crashes, Petaluma police are taking a moment to prepare for the upcoming long weekend, which includes Valentine’s Day, and reminding drivers to stop while they are ahead of the breathalyzer.

Last weekend's string of incidents began at 11:02 a.m. Sunday, when officers responded to a report of a vehicle that crashed into a kiosk at a local Shell gas station. Police said the driver's breath test was well beyond the legal limit.

Then, at 6:09 p.m., a driver who had arrived in a tow truck to retrieve a vehicle from an unrelated incident showed "objective signs of impairment." The man was on probation for a previous DUI charge. He was arrested.

Just after midnight, at 12:25 a.m., officers responded to a report of a suspicious person in a vehicle parked at Lucky’s. Police said a passenger inside the car was suffering from severe alcohol poisoning. The passenger was taken to Petaluma Valley Hospital for treatment. The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

About 30 minutes later, officers responded to a hit-and-run collision involving an 18-year-old Petaluma driver who fled on foot with two juvenile passengers. Police used a drone to find them hiding in a nearby apartment complex laundry room. The driver showed signs of impairment and was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence, hit-and-run, and a felony probation violation. The teens were released to their parents.

Police said residents should plan for Valentine’s Day celebrations by designating a sober driver or using a ride share service.