Police Again Will Ramp Up a Checkpoint to Help Stamp Out DUI, Unlicensed Driving

Pasadena Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, July 26 at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.

The Department reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI. Driving after consuming or smoking marijuana, medical or otherwise, can result in a DUI.

In 2017, 1,120 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads. Last year Pasadena Police Department investigated 73 DUI collisions which claimed one life and resulted in another 32 injuries.

Pasadena Police Department offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun that doesn’t involve a DUI:

• Always use a designated sober driver — a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation — to get home.
• See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
• Report drunk drivers — Call 911.
• Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who are drinking and how they are getting home.

Getting home safely is cheap, but getting a DUI is not! Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.

“This is our third DUI operation rounding out the month of July. Summer is a busy time for gatherings and travelling, and we want to do our part to make sure everyone is safe. DUI arrests are completely preventable. Avoiding arrest for DUI begins with making smart choices,” said Lieutenant Mark Goodman of the Pasadena Police Department Traffic Section. “Make the right choice by designating a sober driver or using a taxi or ride share service to get home safely.”

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to Pasadena Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.