Full Notification

The Santa Clara Police Department will be conducting a Driving Under the Influence/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Wednesday, August 27, 2014, between 8:00 pm and 2:00 am. The police department will also be conducting saturation patrols in an effort to locate DUI drivers. The Checkpoint location will be on Stevens Creek Blvd near the intersection of Winchester Blvd. in Santa Clara. DUI checkpoints are a proven enforcement tool effective in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes. Research shows that crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough.

Officers will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint and looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. Officers will also check drivers for proper licensing and will strive to delay motorists only momentarily. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.
Since August 15th, 175 people have been arrested in Santa Clara County. This is down from the 192 DUI arrests that were made in 2013 during this same enforcement period.

In 2012, 802 people were killed in California that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher. In Santa Clara County, this deadly crime led to 26 deaths because someone failed to designate a sober driver.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), checkpoints have provided the most effective documented results of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, while also yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent. Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving impaired driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public.

Chief Michael Sellers will be present for the kick-off of the checkpoint and available to the media. Sergeant Joe Oliver from the Santa Clara Police Department is available for additional information regarding the August 27th checkpoint. He can be reached at (408) 615-4762 or email [email protected]. For information regarding impaired driving efforts and programs in California, please contact Chris Cochran, California Office of Traffic Safety at (916) 509-3063 or via email at [email protected].

Prepared by Lieutenant Kurt Clarke
Santa Clara Police Department
Administrative Services Division
601 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, Ca. 95050, (408) 615-4865 Fax: (408)