Driving high is DUI, authorities warn on Super Bowl Sunday

GLENDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- Police and the California Highway Patrol are out in full force this Super Bowl Sunday, working to keep drunk and otherwise impaired drivers off the roads.

This year's crackdown is not just about alcohol but marijuana as well.

With recreational marijuana being legal in the state, authorities also want drivers to understand that driving high is DUI.

Officials say marijuana use reduces driver performance and attention. According to a survey in Colorado, 50 percent of people who participated said they didn't realize that smoking marijuana does cause impairment.

The American Automobile Association says that Super Bowl Sunday is one of the most dangerous days on the roads, along with New Year's Eve.

They urged people attending celebrations to make plans to make it a safe evening. They encouraged partygoers to have a designated driver or a ride-sharing service ready. For those who have neither, simply stay overnight.

Law enforcement officials say there are added patrols, including specially trained drug recognition experts, and DUI checkpoints across Southern California.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Crescenta Valley Station sent out a tweet Sunday morning, which read: "Please remember to watch the Super Bowl responsibly or you might find yourself watching it with us... Oh sorry there isn't a TV in our cells but our refrigerator is well stocked. You decide."

The warning ended with the hashtag #DesignateDriver.