Crime & Safety
Long Beach DUI Checkpoint is Saturday
Results of recent motorcycle safety enforcement were also shared.
The Long Beach Police Department will be conducting a checkpoint to screen for impaired and unlicensed drivers Saturday, from 6:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. Sunday, in the area of the South Patrol Division. Through a combination of education and enforcement efforts, Long Beach Police hope to lower the number of driver and motorist injuries and deaths.
Towards this end, driving-under-the-influence checkpoints are conducted to identify offenders and get them off the street, as well as to educate the public on the dangers of driving while impaired.
Traffic volume and weather permitting, all vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will be arrested. The public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 9-1-1 if they see a suspected impaired driver.
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The Long Beach Police Department also reminds all motorists to be aware of motorcyclists, especially when turning and changing lanes. Last Saturday, during a citywide motorcycle enforcement operation, officers produced the following statistics: 65 helmet tickets; seven modified exhaust tickets; seven motorcycle moving violations; 19 vehicle moving violations, and one motorcycle tow.
Motorcycle fatalities have been on the rise in California, increasing 175 percent in the last decade, from 204 killed in 1998 to 560 killed in 2008. Factors contributing to motorcycle crashes very often include speeding and impairment due to drugs and alcohol. Inexperience is another contributing factor to motorcycle crashes, with many people riding motorcycles without the proper motorcycle license endorsement and without the skills necessary to ride safely.
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All riders are encouraged to seek training and safety information, which can be obtained through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. Information and training locations are available at www.CA-msp.org, or by calling 1-877-RIDE-411 or 1-877-743-3411.
Funding for these operations is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information, contact Long Beach Police Department Traffic Section at (562) 570-5737.