In a bid to curb impaired driving in Modesto, local law enforcement is setting up a DUI checkpoint on Friday, July 19. The Modesto Police Department is targeting an undisclosed location for the checkpoint, which will be operational from 6:30 PM to 1:30 AM, aimed at reducing incidents of related crashes due to impairment. This enforcement strategy is informed by data pinpointing areas prone to impaired driving incidents.
Modesto Police Department’s official Facebook page announced the checkpoint, highlighting the safety initiative. According to Modesto Police Department, “Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” stated Sergeant Robert Hall. Taking such drivers off the road is crucial for improving traffic safety. Unfortunately, the risk is not only from alcohol but also arises from legal substances such as prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and marijuana, despite its legality for medicinal and recreational use.
It is not only alcohol that the Modesto Police Department is warning against. Driving under the influence of legal substances, including marijuana, which is legally consumable in California, remains a serious traffic violation. The post details the steep fines and suspensions that come with a DUI offense, underscoring the steep price of a first-time DUI at an average of $13,500, coupled with a suspended license.
Additionally, the checkpoint's funding is sourced from a grant, looking to bolster efforts to mitigate the peril of impaired driving. The California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has backed the initiative. This financial aid underpins the ongoing endeavors of local authorities to wrestle with the menace of sober driving less than adequately addressed on our streets.
