WHAT

Operation Safe Crossing — San Diego Police will coordinate a multi-agency law enforcement operation at the San Ysidro/Tijuana border crossing in an effort to combat underage drinking and prevent people from driving home drunk after partying in Mexico.

WHERE:

Southbound pedestrian turnstiles — San Diego Police will be checking IDs, turning away everyone under 18 not accompanied by a guardian, detaining those with false identification and enforcing curfew. Volunteers will be handing out leaflets to people crossing the border to promote sober driving.

Northbound pedestrian crossing — Enforcement of alcohol and public safety laws, arresting intoxicated pedestrians and drivers, using a zero tolerance approach.

WHEN:

Friday, August 30, 2002 and Saturday August 31, 2002 — Operation Safe Crossing's southbound operation is from 9 pm to 1 am. The northbound operation is from 1 am to dawn.

Youth from the South Bay Partnership will distribute leaflets from 9 pm to 11 pm on Friday Youth from the Montgomery High School Good Samaritans, a chapter of Friday Night Live, will distribute leaflets on Saturday.

WHY:

Aggressive marketing practices lure thousands of high school, college, and university students from across the region to drink in Tijuana, Mexico. This means more partiers heading south of the border, which translates into an increase in the number of alcohol-related problems at the border. The goal of Operation Safe Crossing is to provide the necessary resources to enforce current laws aimed at reducing the number of alcohol-related incidences.

WHO:

San Diego Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Probation, State Parole, Shore Patrol, Federal Protection Agency, Transit Police, and Alcohol Beverage Contol.