Sobriety checkpoint Sept. 4
The El Cerrito Police Department, in conjunction with the “Avoid the 25” Campaign and the Office of Traffic Safety, will host a sobriety check point on Friday, September 4th. The sobriety checkpoint is part of the Traffic Safety Unit’s ongoing educational and enforcement campaign within El Cerrito. Several Contra Costa County police agencies will participate in the checkpoint including officers from the San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules and Richmond Police Departments as well as deputies from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department.
California showed a decrease in 2007 from the previous year in fatal collisions where alcohol was a factor. In 2007, 1,616 people were killed in alcohol related collisions compared with 1,762 fatalities in 2006. Additionally, there were 30,642 people injured in alcohol related collisions compared with 31,099 injured in 2006. One alcohol related fatality and every death involving alcohol could have been prevented. If you decide to drink alcoholic beverages, then designate a driver who will remain sober throughout the evening. Throughout California and Contra Costa County, police agencies will be cracking down on drunk drivers during the Labor Day weekend.
Impaired Driving Is a Crime and Will Not Be Tolerated
• Alcohol impaired driving is one of America’s most-often-committed and deadliest crimes. Overall in 2007, nearly 13,000 people were killed in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.
• In 2007, of the 6,159 passenger vehicle drivers in the age group of 21 to 34 killed in crashes, 51 percent had a BAC of .08 or higher.
• That’s why law enforcement will be out in force across the nation this August 21 through the Labor Day weekend cracking down on drunk drivers.
• Our message is simple—Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.
• No matter what you drive— a passenger car, pickup, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle—if we catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you.
• Far too many people still don’t understand that alcohol, drugs and driving don’t mix. Impaired driving is no accident—nor is it a victimless crime.
• Fortunately, much of the tragedy that comes from impaired driving crashes could be prevented if everyone would take these few simple precautions:
Plan ahead. If you are planning to drink alcohol with friends, designate a sober driver before going out and give that person the keys;
If you didn’t plan ahead and you’re impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely;
Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement;
Wear your seat belt while in a car or use a helmet and protective gear when on a motorcycle as these are your best defenses against an impaired driver;
And remember, if you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
The checkpoint in El Cerrito will focus on either the northern end of the City on San Pablo Ave., or on the southern end at the border with Alameda County. The exact location is still to be determined. Previous checkpoints in El Cerrito have been very successful in educating the public and apprehending those people who wish to drive a motor vehicle after consuming alcoholic beverages. Remember, Over the Limit - Under Arrest.
Run dates: 2009-08-31 - 2009-09-04 |
