The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit arrested two impaired drivers while conducting a DUI/Driver’s license checkpoint on March 29, 2019. The checkpoint was conducted at Oxnard Boulevard north of Second Street between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., resulting in the following:
- 788 vehicles screened
- Two DUI-alcohol suspects arrested
- Nine drivers cited for operating a vehicle unlicensed or while suspended/revoked
- 16 citations issued
- One 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. Oxnard PD 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.
Oxnard PD 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 a designated driver, 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 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.’
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how is this even constitutional? this constitutes an illegal search ….and it also means that the USA is no longer a free country…people can’t freely move around without being harrassed by these cops? America used to be a much better country but now it is a police state. sad, sad, sad.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.