10:23am | The Long Beach Police Department has released statistics showing the results of their Traffic Division’s DUI checkpoint conducted on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at Atlantic Avenue and South Street from 6:00 PM until 2:00 AM the next morning. The checkpoint also screened for unlicensed drivers and those driving with a suspended license.
During the eight-hour operation, which was aided by Long Beach Police Explorers and the Long Beach Search and Rescue, 1,015 vehicles passed through the checkpoint with 393 being screened, resulting in the following statistics:
- 4 arrests for driving under the influence (DUI)
- 2 misdemeanor arrests
- 1 vehicle towed
- 16 vehicles impounded (for unlicensed driving or with a suspended license)
- 38 miscellaneous traffic citations issued
DUI checkpoints are a vital component in the fight against both impaired and unlicensed driving. “Drunk Driving – Over the Limit, Under Arrest” is the name of the 2011 campaign to bring awareness to this issue.
Nationally, impaired driving caused by alcohol and/or drugs causes one death every 33 minutes. The average American has a 30% chance of being killed or injured by a driver under the influence. Sobriety checkpoints have been proven to reduce these types of driving-related collisions by removing such drivers from our streets.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Safety Administration.
For further information, please contact Traffic Section Sergeant Douglas Bender at (562) 570-7484.