Full Notification

Although Irish in its roots, St. Patrick’s Day is most widely celebrated in the United States. To help keep our community’s streets safe on this holiday, the City of Berkeley Police Department will be holding a Driving Under the Influence (DUI)/California Driver’s License (CDL) Checkpoint on March 17, 2023 from 7:00 pm – 1:00 am at the intersection of Shattuck Avenue and Parker Street in the south bound lanes of traffic.
 
DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and DUI related arrests. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road.
 
“This year, St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday, and that means more parties throughout the weekend,” said Sgt Andrew Frankel, Berkeley Traffic Bureau. “If you’ve been drinking, make the smart choice to plan for a sober driver to get you and your friends home safely. Before you put your keys in the ignition, remind yourself: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.”

St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest times on our nation’s roads. During the 2016-2020 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18), 287 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes. In 2020 alone, 37 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18). Drivers should also keep an eye out for pedestrians who have had too much to drink. Walking while intoxicated can also be deadly; lack of attention to surroundings could put pedestrians at risk of getting hit by a vehicle.
 
“Drunk drivers are a continuing problem on our nation’s roads, especially around holidays like St. Patrick’s Day,” said Lieutenant Jen Tate, Commander--Berkeley Traffic Bureau. “We encourage our community members to enjoy themselves but the night should start with a plan which will get them home safely at the end of the evening. Nothing is more heartbreaking than watching a holiday become an anniversary of a tragic night.”

If you’re the designated driver, make sure you keep that promise of safety to yourself and your passengers. It can be a long night, but people are counting on you, not to mention the other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on the streets. Take the role of designated driver seriously — people are relying on you.
 
Party with a Plan
Before ever heading out, it’s vital to plan ahead. Be honest with yourself: You know whether you’ll be drinking or not. Follow these ideas to ensure you and your fellow partygoers stay safe.

• Plan ahead: If you wait until you’ve been drinking to make a smart decision, you might not. Before you have one drink, designate a sober driver who won’t be drinking.
• You have options: designate a sober driver, call a taxi, or use a rideshare service. Getting home safely is always worth it.
• If it’s your turn to be the designated driver, take your job seriously and don’t drink.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact the Berkeley Police Dispatch at (510) 981-5900.
• Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and let a sober driver get your friend home safely.