PASADENA, Calif.—Pasadena Police Department will be conducting a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, March 22, at an undisclosed location within city limits from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.
DUI checkpoints like this one are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests. Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment and will also be checking drivers for proper licensing.
Pasadena Police Department wants to remind everyone that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and marijuana can all be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs.
In 2017, 1,120 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads. Last year, Pasadena Police Department investigated 84 DUI collisions, which claimed one life and resulted in another 58 injuries.
Pasadena Police Department offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun that doesn’t involve a DUI:
- Always use a designated sober driver (a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation) to get home.
- If you see someone who is clearly impaired try and drive, take their keys and help them make arrangements to find a sober way home.
- Call 9-1-1 to report drunk drivers.
- Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who’s drinking and how they are getting home.
Getting home safely is cheap but getting a DUI is not. Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the cost of a DUI arrest to be approximately $13,500. This includes fines, legal fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses, not to mention possible jail time.
“This is our fourth DUI operation rounding out the month of March. DUI arrests are completely preventable. Avoiding arrest for DUI begins with making smart choices,” said Lieutenant Mark Goodman of Pasadena Police Department's Traffic Section. “Make the right choice by designating a sober driver or using a taxi or ride-share service to get home safely.”
Funding for this checkpoint is provided to Pasadena Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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