EDITORIAL: Police need your help to stop DUIs

Newport Beach police are trying to disentangle themselves from an ignominious distinction: The city was first per capita in the state in alcohol-related injuries in 2005.

That number dropped to 99 in 2006, and DUI arrests increased, but that’s not good enough.

Undoing the city’s dubious distinction is a tall order.

There are at least 305 establishments that serve alcohol within the city’s borders.

And hundreds upon hundreds flock to the peninsula from other parts of the county — and from outside the county — to party down in our fair town.

In fact, 70% of those arrested are out-of-towners.

But making streets safer is a priority.

The police department has developed a comprehensive approach, including education outreach and enforcement, to address the problem.

And those operating bars and restaurants are being asked to team up with police to curb drunken driving.

Some are on board with that idea.

Some are lukewarm.

We support the department’s comprehensive, collaborative approach, as well as similar efforts by the Costa Mesa Police Department, which implemented many of its programs years before Newport Beach did (see the second part of a two-part series on this issue on A1).

Simply arresting drunken drivers will not get it done.

It will take a concerted community effort (we’ll avoid the clichéd “It takes a village”) to lower the number of drunken drivers and alcohol-related collisions.

What better time to start doing your part than the holiday season?