South San Francisco, Ca August 27, 2018 Submitted by SSFPD
The South San Francisco Police Department made five arrests while conducting a DUI and Drivers License checkpoint on Saturday night. The checkpoint was in place on Chestnut Avenue at Antoinette Lane and resulted in the following:
848 Vehicles Screened
3 DUI-Alcohol suspects arrested
1 DUI-Drug impaired suspects arrested
1 Suspects arrested for illegal drugs (possession/transportation/sales) 1 Arrested on other Criminal Charges
8 Drivers cited/arrested for operating a vehicle unlicensed or while suspended/revoked
Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public.
In recent years, California has seen a disturbing increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. The South San Francisco Police Department supports the new effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.
Studies of California drivers have shown 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.
The South San Francisco Police Department offers these reminders to ensure a fun night doesn’t get spoiled with a DUI:
- Decide before you go out whether you plan to drink or You can’t do both.
- If you plan to drink, designate a sober driver before going out, or map out another way to
get home safely by taking a cab, ride-share service like Uber or Lyft, or using public transportation. You can also look up designated driver services in your area using the National Directory of Designated Driver Services ( ND DDS ).
- If you are DD, bars and restaurants statewide have created non-alcoholic specialty drinks (“DDrinks”) for sober drivers : http: //bit.l y/OTSD Drinks
- If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, call 911. Offer a description of the vehicle, location and direction of travel
- See your friend or other patron impaired trying to get behind the wheel? Take the keys or help them make other arrangements to get where they are going
Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be approximately $13,500. This includes fines , fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.
South San Francisco Police Department will be conducting additional DUVDrivers License Checkpoints throughout the year in our ongoing commitment to take suspected impaired drivers off our streets and highways, ultimately lowering the risk for deaths and injuries.
The checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Whether by bike, car, motorcycle or walking, South San Francisco Police Department encourages everyone to be a part of the solution and ‘Go Safely California.’
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Thank you, SSFPD!