FRESNO - The Fresno Police Department will conduct DUI saturation patrols on January 10th, 2020 aimed at getting impaired drivers off the road. In addition, the Fresno Police Department will hold a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on January 11th, 2020 at an undisclosed location within the city limits.
DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols are done in locations with a higher frequency of DUI-related collisions and arrests. During the checkpoint, officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing.
In 2017, 1,120 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads. In 2018, the Fresno Police Department investigated 391 DUI collisions which have claimed 8 lives and resulted in another 70 injuries.
The Fresno Police Department reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.
The Fresno Police Department offers these tips to ensure you have a safe night of fun that doesn’t involve a DUI:
•Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.
•See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
•Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
•Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who is drinking and how they are getting home.
Last week the Fresno Police Department arrested 10 drivers on suspicion of DUI while conducting a DUI Saturation Patrol. In addition, the Fresno Police Department made 81 vehicle enforcement stops and cited 16 drivers for operating a vehicle without a license or on a suspended/revoked license.
Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be approximately $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension, and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.
Funding for this DUI Saturation Patrol was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
