Concord Police Plan 7-Hour DUI Crackdown This Weekend

CONCORD, CA — Additional officers from the Concord Police Department will be out on patrol on Friday night in Concord.

From 7 p.m. Friday, June 23, to 2 a.m. Saturday, June 24, the extra officers are scheduled to look for motorists suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

The Concord Police Department remains committed to keeping the public safe when they are traveling, according to police Lt. Gregory Rodriguez.

"We want everyone to be as safe as possible, especially when they are on the road," Rodriguez said.

As part of that, the Concord Police Department reminded the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving, so always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving. Further, while the use of medicinal and recreational marijuana is legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

"If you plan on drinking or taking medications that may impact your ability to drive safely, plan on staying at home," Concord police Cpl. Shaun Parsley said. "Driving sober is your safest bet."

Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI will pay a stiff price: an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license, Parsley said.

Funding for Friday's crackdown was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.