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December 19
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Drunk tank at SCV Station | LASD

Drunk tank at SCV Station | LASD

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Santa Clarita Station will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, Dec. 19, at an undisclosed location within the City of Santa Clarita, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Driving Under the Influence / Driver’s License (DUI/CDL) Checkpoints are conducted by deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on a regular basis.

The deterrent effect of DUI checkpoints is a proven resource in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug involved crashes.  Research shows that crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized DUI checkpoints and proactive DUI patrols are conducted routinely.

In California, this deadly crime led to 802 deaths in 2012 because someone failed to designate a sober driver.  Nationally, the latest data shows nearly 10,000 were killed by an impaired driver. “Over the course of the past three years in the contract cities policed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, DUI collisions have claimed 33 lives and resulted in 898 injury crashes harming 1330 of our friends and neighbors,” said Sgt. Daniel A. Dail of Traffic Services Detail.

Deputies 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.  Recent statistics reveal 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.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), checkpoints have provided the most effective documented results of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, while also yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent.  Nearly 90 percent of California drivers approve of DUI checkpoints.

DUI Checkpoints 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.

Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, other expenses that can exceed $10,000 not to mention the embarrassment when friends and family find out.

Funding for these operations is provided to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety http://www.ots.ca.gov/ through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration http://www.nhtsa.gov/, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1.

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47 Comments

  1. Josh Wilkey says:

    Those are good for the back believe it or not. Almost worth it.

  2. Awesome job sheriff’s! you guys also provide a nice hotel for the drunks. :)

  3. Better wait till 3 to head home

  4. What’s the average cost of a first time DUI in California these days?

  5. How can anyone reasonably come up with 10,000 dollars ? What happens if they can’t pony up…?

    • Jail, community service, loss of license, and they will put you on a payment plan. Don’t drink and drive. Insurance requires an SR 22 filing which will triple your insurance rates for 5 years.

  6. Greg Brown says:

    What kind of motels have you been to Laura?!? lol

  7. Kyle Dee says:

    More ridiculous than the checkpoints are the warnings of checkpoints…. Sounds like our search for wmd’s… Haha

  8. Kyle Dee says:

    More ridiculous than the checkpoints are the warnings of checkpoints…. Sounds like our search for wmd’s… Haha

  9. Jack Panda says:

    Amendment IV
    The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

    • Offramp says:

      The US Supreme Court ruled in 1993 that DUI checkpoints do not meet the test of being unreasonable. Therefore they are legal.

  10. Jack Panda says:

    Amendment IV
    The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

  11. Sally Rivera says:

    Chris Rivera Johnny Rivera Vince Rivera

  12. Drunk tank wouldn’t be too bad if they would give you a poxy book at least.
    So boring, no clock.

  13. Adam Dome says:

    Call a cab people

  14. Icd Sheep says:

    Thank you for protecting our streets from all the drunk drivers. I want to celebrate Christmas at home not six feet under!

  15. Kurt Buck says:

    I agree with John and Jack on this. It is a violation of the 4th amendment. Just because our rights are being violated for a good cause, such as stopping drunk driving and impounding peoples cars for registration and drivers license violations, doesn’t make it right.

  16. Brad Glover says:

    All the Xmas party’s .. .. why would they stop at 2 if they wanted the real drunks they’d go till 4 or 5 am ..

  17. That’s not the drunk tank I was in. I was in a big ass room with one toilet and about 12 people!

  18. Jeanethe Olga Alarcon Valles

  19. Call a cab April Herrera

  20. Lisa Poe says:

    At least you get a blanket.

  21. Amy Colby says:

    Don’t drink and drive if you can’t afford bail

Leave a Comment


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