OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint Results
DATE/TIME:	Saturday, February 9, 2019 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Tim Kelley, Sergeant
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Ricardo Vazquez, Sergeant (805) 385-7847 Ricardo.vazquez@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:

On Saturday, February 9, 2019, between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department conducted a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint in the City of Oxnard. The checkpoint was conducted in the westbound lanes of Wooley Rd. west of Oxnard Blvd. This location was chosen to provide increased DUI deterrence and in response to recent alcohol-related arrests and DUI collisions.

DUI Checkpoint results:

444 vehicles screened
3 DUI alcohol arrests
1 misdemeanor warrant arrest
20 drivers cited/arrested for operating a vehicle unlicensed or while suspended/revoked
10 citations issued
1 vehicle towed

Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public.

In recent years, California has seen a disturbing increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. The Oxnard Police Department supports the new effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all 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.

Studies of California drivers have shown that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.

The Oxnard Police Department offers these reminders to ensure a fun night doesn’t get spoiled with a DUI:

Decide before you go out whether you plan to drink or drive. You can’t do both.
If you plan to drink, designate a sober driver before going out, or map out another way to get home safely by taking a cab, ride-share services like Uber or Lyft, or using public transportation. You can also look up designated driver services in your area using the National Directory of Designated Driver Services (NDDDS).
If you are DD, bars, and restaurants statewide have created non-alcoholic specialty drinks (“DDrinks”) for sober drivers: http://bit.ly/OTSDDrinks

If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, call 911. Offer a description of the vehicle, location, and direction of travel
See your friend or other patron impaired trying to get behind the wheel? Take the keys or help them make other arrangements to get where they are going safely.

Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be approximately $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.

The Oxnard Police Department will be conducting another DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint later this month in our ongoing commitment to take suspected impaired drivers off our streets and highways, ultimately lowering the risk for deaths and injuries.

The checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Whether by bike, car, motorcycle or walking, the Oxnard Police Department encourages everyone to be a part of the solution and ‘Go Safely California.’

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Sergeant Ricardo Vazquez at (805) 385-7847 or via e-mail at ricardo.vazquez@oxnardpd.org.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 09/09/19 3:00 a.m.