RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENTSheriff Chad Bianco |
| Press Release: | Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Driver’s License Checkpoint |
| Station Area: | Thermal |
| Written Date: | July 17, 2020 | Time: | 2:00 PM |
| Incident Date: | July 31, 2020 | Time: | 7:00 PM |
| Incident Location: | Undisclosed Location in Coachella |
| Reporting Officer: | Sergeant Steve Davis |
| File Number(s): | N/A |
Details:
Coachella, Calif. – Riverside County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driver’s License Checkpoint on July 31, 2020, at an undisclosed location within the city limits of Coachella between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
DUI Checkpoints like this one are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests. Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.
In 2017, 1,120 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads. Last year, Riverside County deputies assigned to the City of Coachella investigated numerous DUI collisions which have claimed 1 life and resulted in another 5 injuries.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun that doesn’t involve a DUI:
- Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.
- See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
- Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
- Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who is drinking and how they are getting home.
Getting home safely is cheap, but getting a DUI is not! Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.
Funding for this checkpoint is provided to The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
