Hayward Police Will Have Extra Patrols, DUI Checkpoint On Sept 17

Castro Valley CA

03 September, 2021

7:18 PM

Description

HAYWARD, CA —The Hayward Police Department has announced that on an upcoming Friday night/Saturday morning, it will be taking multiple actions in order to find and arrest impaired drivers. In a release, the department said that on Sept. 17, and into Sept. 18, it will have additional officers on patrol, specifically looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) patrols will be operating throughout the city of Hayward from 6 p.m. on Sept. 17 to 2 a.m. on Sept. 18. That same night, Hayward police will be setting up a DUI/driver's license checkpoint from 7 p.m. to 2 p.m. at an undisclosed location within the city limits. At the checkpoint, officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing, the department said. The DUI checkpoint and the patrols will be in areas with a history of DUI-related collisions and arrests, according to the department. Last year, the Hayward Police Department investigated 21 DUI crashes, which killed one person and injured 22 others. In 2018, 1,069 people were killed on California roads in crashes involving drivers who had a blood alcohol content over the legal limit (.08 or above), according to officials. In addition to being dangerous, driving under the influence can be expensive. Drivers charged with DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license and possible jail time, Hayward police said. While alcohol can be particularly deadly when mixed with driving, Hayward police remind the public that impaired driving also can result from a driver's use of over-the-counter medications. Additionally, though medicinal and recreational marijuana now are legal, it is illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana. According to the Hayward police, if you plan on drinking or taking medications that can affect your ability to drive, there are several precautions you should take in order to avoid getting a DUI, including: Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.Walking while impaired is also dangerous. Have someone sober walk you home or stay with you until a sober driver is available to pick you up.Report drunk drivers – Call 911.Hosting a party? Offer non-alcoholic drinks. Monitor who is drinking and how they are getting home. According to Hayward police, funding for the additional DUI patrols and DUI/driver's license checkpoint has been provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.