The Newport Beach Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a DUI/drivers license checkpoint on Friday at an undisclosed location in the city between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.
“Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions have claimed three lives and resulted in 115 injury crashes harming 157 of our friends and neighbors,” said Sgt. Rachel Johnson.
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, according to an NBPD press release. According to authorities, research has shown 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.
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, the press release reads. Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and the public, authorities explain.
In California, this deadly crime led to 867 deaths and over 23,000 serious injuries in 2013 because someone failed to designate a sober driver. Nationally, the latest data shows nearly 10,000 were killed by an impaired driver.
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, which now accounts for a growing number of impaired driving crashes.
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.
The checkpoint event is funded with a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Safety Administration.
