By Daily Press staff
The Santa Monica Police Department will be conducting a Driving under Influence Checkpoint on Saturday, December 21. The checkpoint will be operated during nighttime hours at an undisclosed location in the City of Santa Monica.
The holiday season is typically associated with travel and celebration, and it is one of the highest periods for alcohol-related traffic deaths. Santa Monica police have selected this period to bring this public awareness campaign to help prevent tragedies caused by drinking and driving.
Police chief James Butts Jr. said, “It’s our goal to make this holiday season one of the safest seasons ever for those visiting and shopping in Santa Monica.”
MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) believes sobriety checkpoints are one of the most effective tools to detect and deter drunk drivers. “Our roadways must be free from the threat of alcohol-impaired drivers,” explained Tina Pasco, executive director, MADD-Los Angeles. “Highly publicized sobriety checkpoints alert motorist to stay off the roads or designate a non-drinking driver to avoid a drunk driving arrest.” Pasco added, “Checkpoints also provide an opportunity to remind motorists to buckle up because seat belts are the best defense in a drunk driving crash.”
Public opinion polls show strong support for sobriety checkpoints. A 1990 U.S. Supreme Court ruling established the constitutionality of such stops for DUI enforcement and deterrence. Studies show a reduction in alcohol-impaired driving where check-points have been used.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 20, 2002. Read the original PDF.