SMPD is out to get drunk drivers
Surprises are literally everywhere this holiday season, as the Santa Monica Police Department plans to conduct a series of random sobriety checkpoints throughout the city.
The first of four screenings scheduled for December was held Friday night, stopping 606 motorists traveling east-bound on the 600 block of Santa Monica Boulevard between the hours of 7 pm and midnight. Fifteen SMPD officers formed a line along the boulevard’s divider and checked five to six cars at a time. Motorcycle-mounted police were posted at the intersection to chase down any motorists that made traffic violations trying to avoid the checkpoint.
By the end of the night, two individuals were arrested — one for driving under the influence and the other for giving false information to a police officer.
While the primary objective was locating drivers under the influence, police were also looking for expired licenses and those driving without permits entirely.
“In California the outcome isn’t necessarily more arrests of drunk drivers. The last time we did this, we only arrested three or four DUI’s,” said Lt. Frank Fabrega, the SMPD Public Information Officer. “It’s mostly about general education for the public.”
As cars were stopped, licenses were checked, and drivers were given a bag containing pamphlets and a key chain from the Los Angeles chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving — who were on hand for the check point.
“MADD works a lot with law enforcement. We offer a hand to what they do on the street,” said Tina Pasco, Executive Director of MADD LA. “We try to fit in with what law enforcement is doing because both our missions are to combat underage drinking and DUI.”
Pasco said that California, and especially Los Angeles County, has a high rate of drunk driving accidents compared to the national average. Last year 749 people were killed in alcohol related crashes in LA county – three in Santa Monica.
According to MADD, the incidence of drunk driving is increasing locally. Fatalities in 2000 increased by 65 deaths — almost ten percent — from the previous year. Meanwhile, the group reports that DUI arrests in California are down over three percent during the same time period.
“Population is increasing, there are more new drivers on the road, and law enforcement resources are more strained than ever,” said Pasco. “People feel these days like they don’t have to be as cautious. Checkpoints like this show them if you make a bad decision, there are departments out there — like Santa Monica — that are more than willing to take you off the street to make us all safe.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 3, 2001. Read the original PDF.