The Santa Clara Police Department, in partnership with the California Office of Traffic Safety, will be conducting a Driving Under the Influence and Driver's License Checkpoint on Friday, August 19 from approximately 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the south east part of the city.
The goal of the checkpoint is to educate motorists about the dangers of impaired driving, and to ensure the safety of our community by removing unlicensed and impaired drivers off our city's streets. During the stop, officers look for signs of alcohol or drug impairment such as the smell of alcohol in the car, bloodshot eyes, smelling marijuana in the car, slurred speech, or even the driver admitting to drinking alcohol. Checkpoints also result in citations for issues with vehicle registration, driver’s licenses, car insurance, etc.
Announcement of the upcoming Driving Under the Influence and Driver's License Checkpoint is required to comply with state law requirements. Prior announcement, and the visibility of a sobriety checkpoint taking place, also serve as a powerful deterrent to motorists.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
