PRESS RELEASE
Downey, CA, April 2, 2019:
The Downey Police Department to Hold DUI Checkpoint & Conduct Saturation Patrols
Downey, Calif. – The Downey Police Department will hold a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint on April 5, 2019, at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. In addition, The Downey Police Department will conduct DUI saturation patrols aimed at getting impaired drivers off the road.
DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols are done in locations with a higher frequency of DUI-related collisions and arrests. During the checkpoint, officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing.
In 2017, 1,120 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads. Last year, the Downey Police Department investigated 157 DUI collisions which resulted in 76 injuries.
The Downey Police Department reminds 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.
The Downey Police Department offers these tips to ensure you have a safe night of fun that doesn’t involve a DUI:
• Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.
• See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
• Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
• Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who is drinking and how they are getting home.
Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.
Funding for these enforcement efforts are provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
