HOLLISTER, CA – December 24, 2024 - Hollister Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on December 29th, 2024 at an undisclosed location within the city limits beginning around 6:00pm and ending in the early morning hours of the 30th. During this time, officers may also be assigned to high visibility proactive DUI saturation patrols throughout the city.
This operation is being conducted in conjunction with law enforcement agencies across the United States as part of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) “National Winter DUI Mobilization.”
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.
DUI Checkpoints like this one are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests, affording the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence. Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and the public.
Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing, delaying motorists only momentarily. When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving, which now accounts for a growing number of impaired driving crashes. 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.
Studies of California drivers have shown that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.
Getting home safely is cheap, but getting a DUI is not! 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.
The Hollister Police Department pleads with our motoring public to make smart decisions when driving. If you drink, use cannabis, or consume intoxicating medications; don’t drive. Call a taxi, sober friend or family member, designate a sober driver, or walk home. Please don’t have your next ride be in the back of our car, an ambulance, or a hearse.
Let’s all enjoy the holidays and end this year positively by making it home safe. Your friends and family are counting on seeing you.
Funding for this checkpoint is provided to Hollister Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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Prepared by: Chris Wells, Sergeant
Approved by: Carlos Reynoso, Chief of Police
