PASADENA, Calif.—Pasadena police officers will be out on the evening of Friday, Nov. 22, looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
DUI saturation patrols will take place in areas with high frequencies of DUI collisions and/or arrests. In 2017, 1,120 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads. Last year, Pasadena Police Department investigated 73 DUI collisions, which claimed one life and resulted in another 49 injuries.
In recent years, California has seen an increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. Pasadena Police Department reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.
Pasadena Police Department encourages drivers to follow these tips to avoid a DUI:
- Always use a designated sober driver (a friend who is not drinking, ride-share service, taxi 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.
Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the cost of a DUI arrest to be approximately $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses, not to mention possible jail time.
Funding for this DUI operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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