Santa Monica Police on the Lookout for Drunk Drivers
April 15, 2013 -- Santa Monica Police will be watching out for drunk drivers Friday with a DUI checkpoint somewhere in the city.
In an attempt to cut back on the number of alcohol and drug related accident, SMPD officers will be stopping drivers to check for signs of inebriation.
“All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers,” officials said.
“Over the course of the past year, traffic collisions involving impaired drivers/riders were involved in 91 collisions; which have killed 3 and injured 28 people,” said Santa Monica Police Lieutenant Jay Trisler.
Drivers who find themselves going through the checkpoint can expect officers to look for any signs of impairment.
“Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases; as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, court probation and other expenses that can exceed $10,000,” officials said.
Checkpoints are the most effective way to catch DUI, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They also save law enforcement agencies an average of $6 to every $1 spent, according NHTSA.
“This is part of an ongoing campaign to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes,” police officials said.
“The Santa Monica Police Department reminds drivers that if you plan on drinking, have a designated driver or call a taxi cab to take you safely home,” they said.
For more information, please contact Sergeant Phillbo Rubish at the Santa Monica Police Department Traffic Section at 310-458-8950, or the Public Information Officer, Sergeant Richard Lewis at 310-458-8462.
“Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” officials said.
