DUI/Driver's License Checkpoint To Be Held In Petaluma

PETALUMA, CA —A DUI/driver's license checkpoint is scheduled to be held Saturday night in Petaluma as part of the Petaluma Police Department's commitment to increase overall traffic safety and reduce the number of collisions involving impaired drivers, the department announced Wednesday.

The Petaluma Police Department Traffic Unit is conducting the checkpoint between 6 p.m. Saturday, June 3, and 2 a.m. Sunday, June 4, at an undisclosed location within the city limits, Petaluma police Sgt. Walt Spiller said in a news release.

Officers will look for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment and will check drivers for proper licensing, delaying motorists only momentarily, Spiller said. Specially trained officers are available to also evaluate people suspected of drug-impaired driving.

There were 780 deaths in 2020 in California because someone failed to designate a sober driver, according to police. Nationally, the data shows 11,654 people were killed in 2020 by an impaired driver.

"We will continue our efforts to locate and identify impaired drivers," Spiller said. "Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 to $20,000 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license."

The deterrent effect of DUI checkpoints is proven to reduce the number of people killed and injured in alcohol- or drug-involved crashes, according to police. Research shows that crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized DUI checkpoints and proactive DUI patrols are routinely held, Spiller said.

Checkpoint locations are chosen using collision statistics and the frequency of DUI arrests. The safety of the location for officers and the public is also a factor.

The Petaluma Police Department is holding this weekend's checkpoint with grant funds from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"The Petaluma Police Department encourages people who visit and enjoy Petaluma during the summer months, to plan ahead and either designate a sober driver, use ride share or call a taxi to avoid drinking and driving," Spiller said. "Driving Under the Influence is 100% preventable."