DUI checkpoint and ‘blanket patrol’ will target impaired drivers in Stanislaus County
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department announced a traffic enforcement effort planned for Saturday, including a checkpoint or a possible saturation patrol looking for drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The enforcement activity to improve safety on roadways was announced in a news release Friday. “The Sheriff’s office is prepared to stop and arrest any drunk driver (we) see to keep roads and the community safe,” the news release said.
The sheriff’s office said it has deputies with special training to identify drunk drivers and motorists impaired by drugs.
The Sheriff’s Department did not disclose the time and location for a DUI checkpoint, but simply said the enforcement activities are planned Saturday.
With a saturation patrol, a number of traffic officers are deployed to a specific area to watch for drivers under the influence. Also called “blanket patrols”, they usually choose areas and times known for impaired driving.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car crashes caused by drunken drivers result in about 30 deaths every day in the United States.
Funding for the checkpoint this weekend comes from a grant through the California Cannabis Tax Fund. In addition to a sober driver, authorities encouraged people to stay safe on the road by using seat belts, putting cell phones away, following the traffic rules and watching out for dangerous drivers. Report a drunk driver by calling 911.
