Sobriety Checkpoint In San Francisco

San Francisco Police Department’s Traffic Unit will be conducting a sobrietycheckpoint on Friday, June 20th, at an undisclosed location within the city limitsbetween the hours of 8:00 P.M. and 4:00 A.M.The deterrent effect of DUI checkpoints is a proven resource in reducing the number ofpersons killed and injured in alcohol or drug involved crashes. Research shows thatcrashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well publicizedDUI checkpoints and proactive DUI patrols are conducted routinely.In California, this deadly crime led to 802 deaths in 2012 because someone failed todesignate a sober driver. Nationally, the latest data shows nearly 10,000 were killedby an impaired driver. “In 2013, San Francisco had one traffic fatality related to a DUIdriver. There were 56 felony DUI arrests during the same time period,” says OfficerGordon Shyy, San Francisco Police.Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment with officerschecking drivers for proper licensing delaying motorists only momentarily. Whenpossible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected ofdrug-impaired driving. Recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of drivers in fatalcrashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showedmore 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, slightlymore than alcohol.According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), checkpointshave provided the most effective documented results of any of the DUI enforcementstrategies, 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 ofDUI arrests affording the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged drivingdeterrence. Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and thepublic.Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jailtime, fines, fees, DUI classes, other expenses that can exceed $10,000 not to mentionthe embarrassment when friends and family find out.Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the San Francisco Police Department by agrant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1’.For additional information:SFPD Media Relations(415) 553-1651