Fairfield, California. – Five drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, including marijuana, while conducting two DUI checkpoints on , Jan. 8, 2021, and Jan. 15, 2021.
The checkpoints were held in the 1500 block of West Texas St and the 2500 block of North Texas St.
Additionally, 1,500 drivers were contacted while going through the checkpoints. 10 drivers were found to be operating a vehicle on a suspended license, they were cited and their cars were impounded.
Checkpoint locations are based on a history of crashes and DUI arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired. West Texas St. was chosen in response to two fatal collisions occurring in the area last year, both involving drug or alcohol impaired parties. North Texas St. was selected due to another pair of fatal traffic collisions in 2020, where those involved were found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The deterrent effect of High Visibility Enforcement using both DUI checkpoints and DUI Saturation Patrols has proven to lower the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug impaired crashes. Research shows that crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized proactive DUI operations are conducted routinely.
In recent years, California has seen a disturbing increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. Fairfield supports the efforts from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all 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. Everyone should be mindful that if you’re taking medication – whether prescription or over-the-counter – drinking even small amounts of alcohol can greatly intensify the impairment affects.
Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspensions and other expenses that can exceed $10,000 not to mention the embarrassment when friends and family find out.
Please designate a driver or call for a ride. If you see someone driving you believe to be under the influence, call 911.
Fairfield Police Department will continue to hold DUI/Driver’s License checkpoints throughout the year.
We would also like to thank the Solano County Probation Department for thier support during both checkpoints.
Funding for this checkpoint were provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
