Staff reports
LAKE COUNTY — It”s never wise to drink and drive, but this weekend the chances of getting a DUI just went up.
According to a press release, Lt. Dane Hayward, Area Commander for the California Highway Patrol recently announced that the local CHP will conduct a sobriety checkpoint in Lake County.
The press release included that sobriety checkpoints will be staffed by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers who are trained in the detection of alcohol and/or drug-impaired drivers. CHP Drug Recognition Experts, certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will be on site to provide on-the-spot assessments of drivers suspected of drug use. The officers will also be equipped with state of the art hand-held breath devices which provide an accurate measure of blood alcohol concentrations of suspected drunk drivers.
“During this summer vacation, we are working hard to prevent the members of our community from being needlessly injured and/or killed on our roads. Our goal is to ensure the safe passage of each and every motorist by targeting roads where there is a high frequency of drunk driving. A sobriety checkpoint is an effective tool for achieving this goal and is designed to augment existing patrol operations. By publicizing our efforts, we believe that we can deter motorists from drinking and driving,” said Lt. Hayward.
Lt. Hayward emphasized, “Traffic volume permitting, all vehicles will be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, or unlicensed, can be expected to be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those considering mixing alcohol and/or drugs with driving during summer vacation ? the CHP will be keeping a watchful eye out for you.”
