The Sacramento Police Department will be conducting a sobriety and driver license checkpoint on Friday, June 13, 2014, on Fruitridge Road near Mendocino Ave. It will begin at 7:30 p.m. and run for 5 to 7 hours. 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.

The deterrent effect of DUI checkpoints is a proven resource in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug involved crashes. 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. In California, this deadly crime led to 774 deaths because someone failed to designate a sober driver. Nationally, the latest data shows nearly 10,000 people were killed by impaired drivers.

Recent statistics have revealed that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more drivers tested positive for drugs that may have impaired their driving (14 percent) than those that tested positive for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was the most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), checkpoints have provided the most effective documented results of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, while also yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent. Nearly 90 percent of California drivers approve of DUI checkpoints.

Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the Sacramento 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’.

Please direct any inquiries to Sergeant Chris Prince at (916) 808-6069. Media is encouraged to attend the checkpoint in an effort to spread awareness about the impacts of drinking and driving.