With all the news hype surrounding the drinking and driving problems facing some of our Hollywood-type celebrities and taking the lives of so many of our young people I thought it relevant to broach the subject. It seems with all the work done by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and all the media controversy we’d find a reduction of drinking and driving accidents–apparently not so.
Yesterday we received a press release from the Long Beach Police Department regarding a driving-under-the-influence (DUI) and unlicensed driver checkpoint scheduled for tomorrow. Unfortunately we received the information too late for print in the body of the paper–but since I was once again late in writing my thoughts, I thought the information important enough to include here in my column. Please read and heed.
It’s getting warmer, and summer barbecues and drinking sometimes go hand in hand. If you drink–please don’t drive. Have a sober buddy drive you home or call a cab. Even if you are just driving around the corner–a drunk driver is a lethal driver. Could you live with yourself if your actions took the life of another? Thanks for listening–here’s that press release:
On Friday, the Long Beach Police Department will conduct a Driving Under the Influence and Drivers License Checkpoint, “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” This operation will commence at 6 p.m. and conclude at 2 a.m.
Nationally, impaired driving caused by drugs and/or alcohol causes one death every 33 minutes. Sobriety checkpoints have been proven to reduce impaired driving related accidents by removing these drivers from our streets. Checkpoints also increase public awareness by deterring impaired driving and lessening the hazards to innocent people.
Studies indicate unlicensed drivers are responsible for a disproportionate number of traffic accidents resulting in injuries or fatalities. In Long Beach, it is estimated that approximately 13,800 drivers operate motor vehicles with suspended or revoked licenses and another 12,500 drive with no license at all.
This checkpoint will be located on Seventh Street at Locust Avenue. The checkpoint is designed to quickly screen drivers while limiting their delay to less than three minutes. Traffic flow, signs of impairment or traffic violations will determine who will be contacted.
Long Beach police officers, motor officers, reserve officers, search and rescue, and police explorers will operate the checkpoint. Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Safety Administration. For further information, call Sergeant Max Jones of the Traffic Section at (562) 570-5737.
