MADERA COUNTY – The Oakhurst office of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will conduct a Sobriety/Drivers License Checkpoint on Saturday, June 27, somewhere within the unincorporated area of Madera County.
In addition, specially assigned officers will patrol the surrounding area searching for DUI drivers.
Sobriety/Drivers License Checkpoints will be staffed by CHP Officers who are trained in the detection of alcohol and/or impaired drivers. The officers will also be equipped with hand-held breath testing devices which provide an accurate measure of blood alcohol concentrations of suspected intoxicated drivers.
Motorists approaching the Sobriety/Drivers License Checkpoint will see informational signs advising them that a checkpoint is ahead. Once diverted into the lane, motorists will be detained for a few moments while the officer explains the purpose of the checkpoint.
“All too often, members of the community are senselessly injured or killed on our local roadways in traffic collisions, especially when the collision involves intoxicated or unlicensed drivers,” said Lieutenant Jason Daughrity, Oakhurst Area CHP Commander.
The stated goal of the CHP is to ensure the safe passage of each and every motorist by targeting roads where there is a high frequency of intoxicated and unlicensed drivers. It also sends a clear message to those who consider mixing drinking with driving. A sobriety/license checkpoint is a proven effective tool for achieving this goal, says the CHP, and is designed to augment existing patrol operations.
“Traffic volume permitting, all vehicles that enter into the checkpoint will be checked for drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs or driving while unlicensed,” Lieutenant Daughrity emphasized. “Our objective is to send a clear message to those individuals who consider mixing alcohol or drugs with driving, and/or drive when unlicensed; you will be caught. The drivers of vehicles whose license status is suspended will be cited and their vehicles may be towed away. Drivers who are unlicensed will also be cited and their vehicles may be towed away if no licensed driver is available.”
Funding for this operation was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Reducing Impaired Driving (RID).
CHP Sobriety/Drivers License Checkpoints will be conducted in accordance with guidelines for checkpoint operations outlined in the California Supreme Court decision, Ingersoll vs. Palmer.
