DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint Planned this Weekend

Suisun City – Suisun City Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint on Friday, December 28, 2012, on Sunset Avenue between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. 

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 alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough.

Officers will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment.  Officers will also check drivers for proper licensing and will strive to delay motorists only momentarily.  When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving.  Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, other expenses that can exceed $10,000.

In 2010, over 10,000 people were killed nationally in motor vehicle traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher. In California, this deadly crime led to 791 deaths because someone failed to designate a sober driver. “Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions have claimed 3 lives and resulted in 25 injury crashes harming 37 of our friends and neighbors,” said Traffic Officer Michael Urlaub.

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.  Based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests, DUI Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence.  Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and the public.

“DUI Checkpoints have been an essential part of the phenomenal reduction in DUI deaths that we witnessed since 2006 in California,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety.  “But since the tragedy of DUI accounts for nearly one third of traffic fatalities, Suisun City needs the high visibility enforcement and public awareness that checkpoints provide.”

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the Suisun City Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to continue to work together to bring an end to these tragedies.  If you see a Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1.

Suisun City Police to Combat Roadway Deaths and Injuries with DUI Checkpoints

Suisun City – Suisun City Police Department has been awarded a new traffic safety grant for an anti-DUI program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways.  Additional enforcement measures to combat impaired driving are coming as a result of a recent $ 24,900 grant awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety to Suisun City. The Suisun City Police Department is dedicated to keeping our streets safe through both enforcement and education.

The Suisun City Police Department has a ZERO tolerance on impaired drivers. If you are found driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol you will be arrested. I would like to thank the Office of Traffic Safety for providing the resources to continue our DUI enforcement activities. – Chief E. Dadisho

The special DUI Checkpoint grant is to assist in efforts to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol and other drug related collisions in the community.  The grant activities will specifically target impaired driving offenders as well as educating the public on the dangers of impaired driving through the use of DUI/driver’s license checkpoints.  When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving. 

Drunk and drugged driving are among America’s deadliest crimes. In 2010, 791 people were killed and over 24,000 injured in alcohol and drug-impaired crashes in California.  In 2011, Suisun City experienced 1 person killed and 8 people injured in these tragic crashes. Crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough.  Checkpoints have proven to be the most effective of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, while yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent.

“DUI checkpoints have been an essential part of the phenomenal reduction in DUI deaths that we witnessed from 2006 to 2010 in California,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety.  “But since the tragedy of DUI accounts for nearly one third of traffic fatalities, Suisun City needs the high visibility enforcement and public awareness that this grant will provide.”

Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Suisun City Police Department Joins Effort to Crack Down on Cell Phone Use and Texting

Texting and Driving Will Cost You: First Ticket Minimum $159

(Suisun City, CA) – How often do you see drivers texting or talking with hand-held cell phones and wish they would be stopped and cited?  As part of California’s first Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, law enforcement in Suisun City will be holding zero tolerance days for cell phone use and texting.  A ticket for violating either the hands free or no texting law costs a minimum of $159, and subsequent tickets cost $279.

Distracted driving is a serious traffic safety concern that puts everyone on the road at risk, joining speeding and alcohol as leading factors in fatal and serious injury crashes.  As a result, law enforcement across the state, including the Suisun City Police Department is increasingly cracking down on cell phone use and texting.  Starting April 4th and throughout the month, Suisun City PD will join over 225 local agencies plus 103 CHP Area Commands conducting zero tolerance enforcements.

“We take the issue of distracted driving very seriously.” said Suisun City Police Department Chief Ed Dadisho. “Cell phone use and texting while driving is such a serious concern that we are putting officers on the road to enforce zero tolerance. Is that text message or cell phone call really worth $159?”

Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.  Younger, inexperienced drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes.   In addition, studies show that texting while driving can delay a driver’s reaction time just as severely as having a blood alcohol content of a legally drunk driver.

“We recognize that convincing drivers to refrain from using cell phones or texting while driving isn’t easy,” said Office of Traffic Safety Director Christopher J. Murphy.  “It’s very difficult to resist the urge to check an incoming text or answer a cell phone call. That’s why we are stepping up enforcement and public awareness efforts. Convincing California drivers to wear seat belts 20 years ago wasn’t easy either, but in 2010 more than 96 percent buckled up and thousands of lives were saved.”

Studies show that there is no difference in the risks between hands-free and hand-held cell phone conversations, both of which can result in “inattention blindness” which occurs when the brain isn’t seeing what is clearly visible because the drivers’ focus is on the phone conversation and not on the road.

 There are simple measures drivers can take to minimize distractions in the vehicle:

  • Turn your phone off or put it out of reach before starting the car.
  • Alert callers that you are unable to take calls when driving by changing your voicemail message.
  • Make it a point not to call or text anyone who may be driving, such as during the commute to and from work or school, especially parents calling teen drivers.
  • If you do need to make an important call or respond to a text message, pull over to a safe place to do so.
  • If going cold turkey is too much of a stretch and you just can’t turn your phone off, consider using one of the available mobile phone apps that holds calls and incoming texts.

“We just want drivers to use some common sense when they’re behind the wheel and focus on driving,” said Murphy.  “Think about the vast majority of calls and texts you send or receive everyday.  Were any really worth a $159 ticket – or worse, a crash, injury or death?  It’s just not worth it.”

MEDIA NOTES: To schedule an interview regarding Distracted Driving and programs in California please contact Chris Cochran, California Office of Traffic Safety at (916) 509-3063 or via email at ccochran@ots.ca.gov.

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