Pasadena Police Department Conducting DUI and “Know Your Limit” Operations

Officers from the Pasadena Police Department will be out on the evening of Friday, December 13, 2019 looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

DUI saturation patrols will take place in areas with high frequencies of DUI collisions and/or arrests. 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 49 injuries.

In recent years, California has seen an increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. Pasadena Police 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.

Pasadena Police Department encourages drivers to follow these tips to avoid 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 is drinking and how they are getting home.

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.

In addition to the DUI saturation patrol, Traffic Section personnel will be participating in a “Know Your Limit” program on the same evening. For most, it’s common knowledge that the legal blood alcohol (BAC) limit for operating a motor vehicle in the state of California is less than .08 percent. However, many people might not realize how much alcohol, or more importantly, how little alcohol it takes to get to a BAC of .08 percent or more.

“Know Your Limit” is not intended as a scare tactic. Instead, it is designed to provide an educational opportunity within Pasadena’s community to encourage groups to designate a sober driver and make good choices. Remember that it may only take a couple of drinks to reach the limit.

The program is also a great community engagement opportunity. “The Pasadena Police Department cares about the safety of people in our bars and restaurants, and want to make sure everyone gets home safely,” said Traffic Section Lieutenant Dahlstein. PPD is working with business owners to make sure the program is a positive influence on their patrons and does not negatively impact their business.

Funding for this DUI operation and “Know Your Limit” program is provided to the Pasadena Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.