Goleta DUI Checkpoint Planned for Friday
updated: Feb 07, 2013, 11:56 AM

Source: Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department

DUI/Driver's License Checkpoint Planned This Friday

The Goleta Traffic Unit will be conducting a DUI/Driver's License Checkpoint on

Friday February 8th, at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 7:00 pm and 3:00 am.

The deterrent effect of DUI checkpoints is a proven resource in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug involved crashes. Research shows that crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough.

Officers will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint and looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. Officers will also check drivers for proper licensing and will strive to delay motorists only momentarily. When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving. People caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes and other expenses which can exceed $10,000.

In 2011, nearly 10,000 people were killed nationally in motor vehicle traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher. In California, this deadly crime led to 774 deaths because someone failed to designate a sober driver. "Since 2011, DUI collisions have claimed 3 lives and resulted in 48 crashes, injuring 27 of our friends and neighbors in Goleta," said Sgt. Kevin Huddle of the Goleta Traffic Unit.

"DUI Checkpoints have been an essential part of the phenomenal reduction in DUI deaths that we witnessed since 2006 in California," said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety. "But since the tragedy of DUI accounts for nearly one third of traffic fatalities, Goleta needs the high visibility enforcement and public awareness that checkpoints provide."

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to Goleta Police by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to continue to work together to bring an end to these tragedies. If you see a Drunk Driver - Call 9-1-1.

The City of Goleta contracts with the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office for police services.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 371867P	2013-02-07 12:04 PM
Again?! This is becoming a monthly occurrence in Goleta and I can't help but to think how much money is being spent on these checkpoints with only a handful of citations being issued. It would be a LOT cheaper and yield probably far more arrests if the cops just waited near bars and watched for drunk drivers. Just my thoughts.....
COMMENT 371873	2013-02-07 12:17 PM
this is about conditioning people to unconstitutional searches.... "show me your papers !" says the SS of SB
COMMENT 371875P	2013-02-07 12:19 PM
873 - DUI checkpoints ARE constitutional, the courts have upheld this numerous times.. Now, whether they are effective? Well, that's up for debate...
COMMENT 371901	2013-02-07 01:02 PM
875P - ask an average person who's gotten charged with DUI - it changes your life forever - most of those people will never ever drink and drive again. 10K, a record, getting dropped by your insurance company and you could even lose your job. It's effective to a point. And yes, the real bad offenders continue to re-offend but you can't win every battle. They can have checkpoints every day as far as I'm concerned. And if they get the no license, no insurance, suspended license fools off the road at the same time, so be it.

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