Crime & Safety
DUI Checkpoint Planned In Santa Rosa
The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road, police said.
SANTA ROSA, CA — The Santa Rosa Police Department announced it plans to conduct a DUI checkpoint Friday, April 19.
It will be held from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location within the Santa Rosa city limits, police said in a news release.
The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road. To determine the location of a checkpoint, police use data from past impaired driving-related crashes.
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"Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk," Santa Rosa police Sgt. Josh Medeiros said. "Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety."
The police department reminded the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol.
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"Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving," Medeiros said. "While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal."
Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face around $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.
Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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