San Mateo is cracking down on drunk driving with a DUI checkpoint slated for February 9. The San Mateo Police Department will be setting up stops from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at East Hillsdale Boulevard and Saratoga Drive, as announced in a recent press release. They're taking a no-nonsense approach to keeping impaired drivers off the streets, targeting an area selected based on crash data linked to inebriated motorists. In the U.S., drunk driving fatalities exact a grim toll, claiming over 10,000 lives annually.
Traffic Sergeant Craig Collom was clear about the stakes. "Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk," he cautioned in a statement. Any initiative that diminishes the number of such drivers conversely enhances the safety of the roads. And while alcohol often comes to mind when talking about DUIs, the SMPD points out that it isn't the sole culprit. Anything from legally obtained marijuana to over-the-counter cold medicine has the potential to compromise one's driving ability — and facing the law if you're found driving under the influence is non-negotiable.
The financial fallout for those caught driving under the influence can be staggering. A first-time DUI offense can lead to around $13,500 in fines and penalties, not to mention a suspended license. Drivers are reminded, in no uncertain terms, that the cost of a DUI goes far beyond the financial. Damaged lives and lost loved ones are prices no one should pay.
San Mateo's DUI checkpoint isn't just a traffic formality. It's part of broader safety operations, bankrolled by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The DUI checkpoint is a hands-on effort to prevent tragic consequences born of impaired driving. For those thinking about getting behind the wheel after a few drinks — or while under the influence of legal substances that impair — it would be wise to think again.
The full details of the checkpoint are available for would-be drivers, and the broader community alike on the Nixle website, to take note and make responsible choices. The San Mateo Police Department is adamant: Stay sober, or stay off the road.
