The Irvine Police Department (IPD) will increase DUI enforcement efforts and the amount of officers on patrol beginning Monday, Dec. 16, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, as part of a national campaign to discourage impaired driving during the holiday season.
In addition, IPD will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Friday, Dec. 20, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The location will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 19.
The checkpoint will be clearly marked and vehicles will be selected for further screening on a pre-set basis to ensure objectivity. Motorists will be greeted and given information about the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Trained officers will direct suspected impaired drivers to a secondary area for further evaluation. Most motorists will experience little or no delay.
This holiday season, and every day, the safest way to drive is when you are sober. IPD reminds everyone who plans to drink to plan on getting a sober ride home.
“We want everyone to enjoy the holidays and being responsible plays a major part in that,” said Irvine Police Chief Mike Hamel. “The danger is clear so before you head out for a party, please make sure you have a safe way to get home.”
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
High-visibility enforcement can reduce drunken driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research has shown. IPD publicizes these highly visible sobriety checkpoints to deter impaired drivers, encourage the use of sober designated drivers and rideshare services, and bring increased awareness to the consequences of impaired driving.