The Fairfield Police Department is ramping up efforts to combat impaired driving by setting up a DUI/Driver's License Checkpoint this weekend in an area notorious for traffic incidents related to alcohol and drugs. On Saturday, the checkpoint will be in operation from 6 pm to midnight along North Texas Street and Pacific Avenue, targeting those whose impairment behind the wheel risks lives and property on our roads, according to an announcement on the department's Facebook page.
Strategically chosen based on data, the location of the checkpoint targets a zone with a high frequency of past DUI arrests and collisions, the checkpoint not only aims to filter out impaired drivers but also serves as a visual reminder of the consequences of driving under the influence, Fairfield Police have aligned their efforts with ongoing research suggesting such high visibility enforcement can reduce alcohol or drug impaired crashes by up to 20 percent. Through rigorous scrutiny and cutting-edge tactics, officers assigned to these checkpoints strive to ensure only a brief delay to sober motorists while casting a wide net to catch those under the influence.
As drug-impaired driving offenses have risen across California, Fairfield law enforcement reminds drivers that impairment is not exclusive to alcohol with a timely message that "DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze." The Fairfield Police highlight serious risks linked to prescription and over-the-counter medications, especially when combined with alcohol, marijuana, or other substances, and emphasize the potential for DUI charges even in the absence of traditional alcoholic intoxication.
During the checkpoint, officers will specifically be on the lookout for signs of intoxication from possibly not just alcohol but drugs as well. Those stopped will be checked for proper licensing. If there's suspicion of drug impairment, specially trained officers will step in to evaluate with the sobering backdrop being the steep cost of a DUI arrest, which can, indeed, go beyond a night in jail to include hefty fines and serious social ramifications, according to the Fairfield Police Department's social media post. Funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, these checkpoints aim to reduce the tragically preventable losses arising from impaired driving.
Anyone with suspicions about an impaired driver is urged to contact authorities through the life-saving number 911.
