Police To Hold DUI Checkpoint Thursday Night In Petaluma

PETALUMA, CA — The Petaluma Police Department Traffic Unit announced it is holding a DUI/driver's license checkpoint Thursday night, Dec. 19.

The checkpoint is planned from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location within the city limits. Police choose the location for checkpoints based on collision statistics and the frequency of DUI arrests. They also factor in safety considerations for the officers and the public.

"Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment with officers checking drivers for proper licensing, delaying motorists only momentarily," Petaluma police Sgt. Walt Spiller said. "When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving, which now accounts for a growing number of impaired driving crashes."

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 conducted routinely, the Petaluma Police Department said.

In 2021 in California, 1,370 people died because someone failed to designate a sober driver. This accounts for nearly a third of all traffic deaths in California. The national data for 2021 shows that impaired drivers killed 13,384 people.

"The Petaluma Police Department is committed to increasing overall traffic safety and reducing the number of alcohol-related collisions," Spiller said. "We will continue our efforts to locate and identify impaired drivers."

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 Petaluma Police Department encourages people who visit and enjoy Petaluma to plan ahead and either designate a sober driver, use ride share or call a taxi to avoid drinking and driving.

The checkpoint is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.