The Riverside County Sheriff's Office switched gears from a DUI checkpoint to a roaming patrol as bad weather hit San Jacinto on December 22nd, according to a sheriff's office statement. Initially planned as a stationary checkpoint, deputies instead took to the streets between 6:00 PM and 2:00 AM in an effort to catch drivers under the influence.
A total of 32 stops were made throughout the night, which led to five field sobriety tests and resulted in three arrests for DUI. This also included two arrests for driving on a suspended license and a few others were issued citations for not having a valid driver's license at all. The patrols were funded by a grant meant to aid in reducing traffic incidents related to impaired driving, provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk," Sergeant Patrick Lynch stated, as reported by Hoodline. Enforcement efforts such as these are driven by data that pinpoints where substance-related crashes are most likely to occur.
In addition to alcohol-related impairment, the sheriff's office reminded the public that the influence of legal substances like prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and marijuana—which is legal for medicinal and recreational use in California—doesn't give a free pass when it comes to driving under the influence. First-time DUI convictions can carry fines and penalties averaging $13,500 and result in a suspended license underscoring the gravity of such offenses.
