PASADENA, Calif.—On Friday evening, March 8, the Pasadena Police Department conducted a citywide DUI saturation patrol program. Specially trained officers were on the lookout for alcohol- or drug-impaired drivers.
121 vehicle enforcement stops were made throughout the operation, which ran from 6 p.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Saturday. Three people were arrested on suspicion of DUI, one of whom was under the influence of marijuana.
Individuals 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.
“The number of DUI arrests Friday evening suggests that people are listening to DUI education and prevention efforts and are using taxi or ride-share services,” said Traffic Section Lieutenant Mark Goodman. Lt. Goodman often discusses DUI prevention with community members who say they regularly plan ahead when visiting restaurants or other establishments that serve alcohol. “Advance planning and sticking to it is the key to staying safe when out on the town,” said Lt. Goodman.
The Pasadena Police Department reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, can impair and result in a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs.
Funding for this DUI operation and the “Know Your Limits” program is provided to the Pasadena Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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