Police are cracking down on DUIs on the Central Coast during the holidays
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - Police in Ventura, Oxnard and San Luis Obispo conducted DUI/Driver's License checkpoints on Friday that resulted in a total of 5 arrests from the 2,053 vehicles that were screened.
The Ventura Police Department arrested one driver for driving impaired by alcohol and another for having an open container of alcohol and marijuana in the vehicle with them.
This checkpoint took place between 8:30 p.m. and 1:45 a.m. on the 4200 block of East Main Street.
An additional 9 drivers were cited for driving a vehicle unlicensed or with a suspended/revoked license.
In Oxnard, police arrested two drivers who were driving under the influence of alcohol. This checkpoint was conducted between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. on Rose Avenue north of Wooley Road.
Oxnard Police said they cited a total of 32 people and had four vehicles towed during this time.
San Luis Obispo Police reported arresting only one driver at their checkpoint on the 500 block of Higuera. The driver was driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Police would like to remind everyone that DUI doesn't just mean booze. Driving while impaired by drugs, including prescription drugs, is also driving under the influence. Being arrested for a DUI can cost you up to $13,500 in fines, fees, classes, license suspension and even jail time.
San Luis Obispo Police said that there has been a disturbing increase in drug-impaired driving crashes recently in California.
Studies of California drivers show that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their system. A study of active drivers showed that 14 percent tested positive for drugs that may impair driving, of which marijuana was the most prevalent, while only 7.3 percent tested positive for alcohol.
For all those planning to take to the streets this holiday season, please take caution and avoid driving if you have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs that could hinder your physical or mental abilities.
Police are working hard to keep our streets safe so that everyone can have a happy and healthy holiday.
