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.
Officers will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail time, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, court probation and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.
All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. “Over the course of the past year, DUI collisions have claimed 9 lives and injured 248 people in Santa Barbara County,” said Sgt. Kevin Huddle of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office.
This DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies and officers will be checking drivers for proper licensing. A major component of these checkpoints is the deterrent effect it has on those who might drive drunk or drug impaired and bring about more awareness, encouraging everyone to use sober designated drivers.
Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For more information contact:
Sergeant Kevin Huddle
Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office
Office (805) 961-7516