Police will be on the lookout for drunk drivers in Sacramento. Here’s when
Police will be on the lookout for drunk drivers in Sacramento.
The Sacramento Police Department will conduct a DUI checkpoint at a spot within city limits starting Friday night, the agency said in a news release.
The location of the checkpoint, which police did not disclose, was “based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes.”
“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Sacramento police Sgt. Anna Mahoney said in the release. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.”
Here’s what to know:
When is DUI checkpoint in Sacramento?
The Sacramento Police Department will conduct the DUI checkpoint from 8 p.m. on Friday, July 11, to 1 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, according to the release.
What is considered impaired driving?
According to the Sacramento Police Department, impaired driving isn’t limited to alcohol use.
“Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving,” police said in its release. “While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.”
The checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Highway Patrol’s Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program, the release said.
Do I have to comply with police at DUI checkpoints?
Under California Vehicle Code, all drivers must stop and submit to a sobriety checkpoint inspection when law enforcement requires it.
However, a driver is not legally obligated to submit to a field sobriety test, pre-arrest test or cheek swab at a DUI checkpoint, according to the Law Offices of Grech and Parker in Riverside.
Field sobriety tests are subjective and may not accurately measure sobriety, according to Bee archives.
“A police officer’s opinion can be influenced, and it’s possible that the tests were not conducted exactly according to protocol,” said Cron, Israels & Stark Attorneys at Law, which has offices in Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
Can I avoid a sobriety checkpoint?
If a driver has not yet been stopped by law enforcement, there are ways they can avoid the checkpoint.
There is no state or federal law that prohibits someone from turning around or finding another route — as long as it is safe to do so — to avoid a DUI checkpoint, according to Shouse California Law Group.
What are penalties for driving under the influence?
If you are stopped by law enforcement for driving under the influence of intoxicants, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has the authority to revoke or suspend your driving privilege.
Drivers charged with a first-time DUI can also face an average of $13,500 in fines, fees and more.
