Results of Saturday's DUI Checkpoint in LB

The Long Beach Police Department conducted 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.

Here are the results from that checkpoint: During the eight-hour operation, 1,057 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, of those 471 were screened. The following statistics were produced: six arrests for driving under the influence; nine cited for unlicensed driving; one cited for driving with a suspended license; 10 vehicles impounded; one vehicle stored, and 26 other citations issued.

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.

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.

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. 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.

On Saturday, July 23, 2011, the Long Beach Police
Department’s Traffic Division conducted a checkpoint to screen for impaired and
unlicensed drivers at , from 6:00 p.m. until
2:00 a.m. the next morning. During the eight-hour operation, which was aided by
Long Beach Police Explorers, Long Beach Search and Rescue, and Long Beach
Police Reserve Officers, 1,057 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, of those
471 were screened, and the following statistics were produced:

· 6 arrests for driving under the influence (DUI)

· 9 cited for unlicensed driving

· 1 cited for driving with a suspended license

· 10 vehicles impounded

· 1 vehicle stored

· 26 other citations issued

DUI checkpoints are a vital component in the fight against
both impaired and unlicensed driving. “Drunk Driving – Over the Limit, Under
Arrest” is the name of the 2011 campaign to bring awareness to this issue.
Nationally, impaired driving caused by alcohol and/or drugs causes one death
every 33 minutes. The average American has a 30% chance of being injured or
killed by a driver under the influence. Sobriety checkpoints have been proven
to reduce these types of driving-related collisions by removing impaired
drivers from our streets.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the
California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Safety
Administration.

For additional information, please contact Traffic Section
Sergeant Aaron Alu at (562) 570-5737.