Information provided by the Hollister Police Department.

The Hollister Police Department is expected to conduct a DUI and Drivers License checkpoint Friday, Sept. 14 at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., according to a recent police press release. The police department conducted two other checkpoints in August.

In recent years, California has seen a disturbing increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. Hollister Police Deparment supports new effort from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If a person take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, that person might be impaired enough to get a DUI, the press release said. Cannabis can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

The deterrent effect of High Visibility Enforcement using both DUI checkpoints and DUI Saturation Patrols has proven to lower the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug impaired crashes, the press release said. Research shows that crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized proactive DUI operations are conducted routinely.

DUI checkpoints like this one are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests, affording the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence, the press release said. Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and the public.  

According to the press release, police officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing, delaying motorists only momentarily. When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving, which now accounts for a growing number of impaired driving crashes. Everyone should be mindful that if you’re taking medication – whether prescription or over-the-counter – drinking even small amounts of alcohol can greatly intensify the impairment affects. 

Studies of California drivers have shown that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems, the press release said. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, cannabis was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.

HPD offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun that doesn’t involve a DUI. Decide before you go out whether you plan to drink or drive. You can’t do both.

If you plan to drink, designate a sober driver before going out or map out another safe way to get home by taxi, ride-share or public transportation. You can also look up designated driver services in your area using the National Directory of Designated Driver Services (NDDDS).

See your friend or other patron impaired trying to get behind the wheel? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to get where they are going safely.

Report drunk drivers – Call 911.

People are encouraged to be a part of the designated driver very important person (“DDVIP”) program. As a DDVIP, you can ensure those drinking get home safely and get rewarded for it. Partnering bars and restaurants statewide have created non-alcoholic specialty drinks (“DDrinks”) for sober drivers: http://bit.ly/OTSDDrinks.

Getting home safely is cheap, but getting a DUI is not. Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI could expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500, the press release said. This could include fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses, not to mention possible jail time.

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the Hollister Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.