For the second Memorial Day weekend in a row, drunken-driving arrests in Monterey County more than doubled, officials said Tuesday.

During the Avoid The 18 crackdown, police officers, sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers arrested 49 motorists on suspicion of driving under the influence, up from last year’s 21. In 2007, officers made 10 DUI arrests over the holiday weekend.

The enforcement sweep, which included a DUI checkpoint in Salinas and increased patrols around the county, started Friday and ended Monday night.

Lynn says additional state grant money from the California Office of Traffic Safety allowed law enforcement agencies to increase patrol hours, and thus boost arrest numbers.

“With more units out there, we’re able to catch more,” he said.

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