Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout0544.091December S, 1991 THE HOllORABLE CITY COUNCIL Palo Alto, california Avpi4 '" Ihirt.tA -lo~ri.ty 9h.qkpoipt Program' Meabera ot ths CQ'.moi 1: RIpOn ip Bri.f This 1. an informational report describing this ye;1J.r"s Sobriety Checkpoint and Avoid the Thirteen programs, No Council action is required. Consistent with past efforts to reduce accidents involving drunk drivers" the Police t~partlDent .. ill aqain conduct oil Sobriety Checkpoint designed to raise public awareness about the problems associated with drunk driving~ Statistics show that S4 percent of all traffic fatalities involve drive.rs under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Althouqh this program enables police officers to detect and arrest drunk drivers, its pri_ary purpose is to promote public safety by dlsco\ll"aginq intoxicated persons from driving on public streets and hiqhways. In 1987, the California Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of sobriet,y che.ckpoints. The program consists of a system t.. .... at cMnnels trll.ffie through a checkpoint where police officers conduct a rapid sobriety evaluation of randomly salected motorists. At the same ti.e .. drivers contacted receive literature explaining the purpose of the program. Unless a driver exhibits signs of intoxication .. the procedure is completed in less than one minute. The public's reaction to the checkpoint will also be measured through the use of pre-addre.ssed survay cards that will be qiven to each person stopped, The public reaction to prior sobriety­ checkpoints has been positive. In 1987, the Sobriaty Checkpoint activity resulted in the arrest of 15 individuals, with 11 arrests .ade in 1988 .. 4 in 1989 and 3 in 1990. CMR: 544: 1 .~-- -....... -- - , . Pa~e Tvo ,.-" ,_I On Friday, Dece:mber 13, 1991, the Police Oepartment will cond":lct ita ~if~~ annual So~riety Checkpoint fro~ 9!OO p.m. to 3:00 a.m. at 11 Camino Real and Hansen way. The location vas selected based upon statistical information, which indicates a disproportionate number of drunk driving arr~5ts and accidents in thilt area. Business owners and residQnts in the vicinity of the checkpoint will be notified in advance. The program will again be conducted .a ~ cooperative effort vith pa~ticipation from California Hlqhway Patrol, Stanford Department of Public satety and Mountai~ View, Los Altos and Menlo Park Police DepartDents. Aypi4 the Thirt •• n December 13., 1991 also begins the annual -Avoid the Thirteen" program that will run through January 1, 1992. In 1974 laW' enforcement agencies in santa Clara County began an annual. campaign aimed at reducing the number of drunk drivers on the road during the holiday 5eason~ This campaign, named after the oriqinal 13 agencies, has expanded over tt.e past .18 years to include 18 agencies in the County. It is sponsored by the Santa Clara County Police Chiefs' Association and the National Traffic Safety Institute. DUring last year's campaign, 1159 axirJcin.g drivl:!.rs 'Were arrested in the County (81 in Palo Alto) and 62 alcohel-related accidents (three in Palo Alto) occurred. Deaths from these types of accidents have been reduced from 13 in 197, to four in 1990. Palo Alto Police Department will again actively participate in this year's program. 71.UllY ated , . ,L- caRl S DURKIN police Chief om: 544: 1 ~~;; ... -", .. , t i f ' --} -~--"