Arrests Made In Concord DUI Checkpoint

CONCORD, CA – A DUI checkpoint held Friday night in Concord resulted in two arrests, a spokesperson for the Concord Police Department said. The checkpoint was conducted on Concord Avenue from about 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28 until around 3 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, Concord police Sgt. Robert Garcia said in a news release.

Garcia said of 847 vehicles screened, one person was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Another person was arrested on criminal charges but police did not elaborate on what those charges were, nor were the names of those arrested disclosed.

Concord PD holds checkpoints in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public, Garcia said.

Further, Garcia said, Concord PD supports the new effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all drivers that "DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze."

The following information was also provided in Concord Police Department's news release:

If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

Studies of California drivers have shown that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.

Concord PD offers these reminders to ensure a fun night doesn’t get spoiled with a DUI:

— Decide before you go out whether you plan to drink or drive. You can’t do both.

— If you plan to drink, designate a sober driver before going out, or map out another way to get home safely by taking a cab, ride-share service like Uber or Lyft, or using public transportation. You can also look up designated driver services in your area using the National Directory of Designated Driver Services (NDDDS).

— If you are DD, bars and restaurants statewide have created non-alcoholic specialty drinks (“DDrinks”) for sober drivers: http://bit.ly/OTSDDrinks

— If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, call 911. Offer a description of the vehicle, location and direction of travel

— See your friend or other patron impaired trying to get behind the wheel? Take the keys or help them make other arrangements to get where they are going safely.

Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be approximately $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.

Concord PD will be conducting additional DUI Checkpoint and DUI Saturation Patrols in the
future in our ongoing commitment to take suspected impaired drivers off our streets and
highways, ultimately lowering the risk for deaths and injuries.

The checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Whether by bike, car, motorcycle or walking, the Concord Police Department encourages
everyone to be a part of the solution and "Go Safely California."

Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone