The Long Beach Police Department’s (LBPD) Traffic Section will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint on Saturday, Dec. 20 in West Long Beach between 7pm and 3am.
Research shows that crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized DUI checkpoints and proactive DUI patrols are conducted routinely, according to the LBPD.
In California, there were 802 deaths in 2012 because someone failed to designate a sober driver, according to police. Nationally, the latest data shows nearly 10,000 were killed by an impaired driver.
“Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions in Long Beach have claimed 9 lives and resulted in 315 injury crashes harming 420 of our friends and neighbors,” said Long Beach Police Department Sgt. Aaron Alu.
Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment with officers checking drivers for proper licensing delaying motorists only momentarily. When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving. Recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems.
A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.
DUI checkpoints are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests affording the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence. Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and the public.
Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, other expenses that can exceed $10,000 not to mention the embarrassment when friends and family find out.
Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the Long Beach Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver — Call 9-1-1’.
