Details on DUI checkpoints held in El Centro
The El Centro Police Department conducted two DUI/Drivers License checkpoints within the city on Aug. 31st and Sept. 8th between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
The checkpoints were placed in locations with the highest probability of stopping possible drunk and drugged drivers.
Over the course of the two checkpoints, officers had 603 vehicles screened, 12 field sobriety tests administered, one DUI suspect arrested, six drivers cited/arrested for operating a vehicle unlicensed or while suspended/revoked and six citations were issued for miscellaneous violations.
In recent years, California has seen a disturbing increase in drug-impaired driving crashes.
Studies of California drivers have shown that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.
El Centro Police will be deploying additional officers this coming weekend in a continued effort to lower deaths and injuries upon the city’s streets and highways.
