PALMDALE –The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Palmdale Station will be conducting a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, Feb. 20, at an undisclosed location within the city of Palmdale, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Deputies will be looking for signs of alcohol or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing and delaying motorists only momentarily. When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving.
Recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. 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, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.
Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, checkpoints have provided the most effective documented results of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, while also yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent. Nearly 90 percent of California drivers approve of DUI checkpoints. DUI Checkpoints are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests, affording the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence. Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and the public.
Funding for this operation is provided to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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Tom says
Beware. The brown uniform organized crime syndicate and their government backers are coming for your checkbook using emotionalism, distortion and inflated statistics. Be careful.
Remy says
Everyone should know their rights at these checkpoints. If Palmdale LASD didn’t publish the exact location of this checkpoint it would be and illegal stop.
Be educated people.
http://www.shouselaw.com/dui-checkpoint.html#2.8
jason h says
Yep exactly.
ZHorizon says
Ideally, DUI checkpoints should be advertised in advance. However, lack of advance publicity does not, by itself, make a sobriety checkpoint unconstitutional.
Wouldn’t this article itself be advanced notification?
Johnnie says
I hope they catch more of theses people that DUI…and they need to do more check points Fridays and Saturdays… Good job PLM Station keep up the good work