Santa Clarita Valley Deputies Arrest 1 At DUI Checkpoint In Saugus

Posted by: Perry Smith in Santa Clarita News May 31, 2013 - 10:32 am 0 161 Views

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEPUTY JOSH DUBIN / SANTA CLARITA VALLEY SHERIFF’S STATION

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station conducted a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint in Saugus on Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

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One driver was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after a field sobriety test after deputies suspected him of being high on marijuana.

“The reason why they did it last night was White Ribbon Week,” said Deputy Josh Dubin of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. “We want to remind everyone around graduation time and throughout the year, that safe driving and smart choices save lives.”

The location of Friday’s checkpoint was Soledad Canyon Road at Golden Oak Road.

The spot was chosen within city limits because it was part of the Santa Clarita’s commitment to ensuring road safety, according to Sheriff’s Station officials.

There were 1,075 vehicles screened; three drivers were given field sobriety tests and 10 unlicensed and/or suspended/revoked drivers were sent to court.

Additionally, 13 drivers were cited and sent to court for various vehicle-code violations.

Three Vehicles were towed, one with a 30-day impound hold, according to Sheriff’s Station figures.

The funding was provided by the Office of Traffic Safety through a federal grant, but the timeliness of it was a local decision, he said.

The idea behind the checkpoint is education, prevention and awareness, said Sgt Rich Cohen of the Traffic Unit for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, adding the the checkpoints will be scheduled throughout the summer.

The Traffic Unit is planning to hold another checkpoint on Friday, Cohen said.

DUI Checkpoints along with regularly scheduled high visibility DUI enforcement serves as a proven deterrent with the goal of removing alcohol and drugged impaired drivers and heightening awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence.

White Ribbon Week is part of a local event that encourages teens and young adults to drive safe during graduation season.

“Over the course of the past five years, DUI collisions have claimed 11 lives and resulted in 255 injury crashes harming 363 of our friends and neighbors,” Cohen said. “If everyone planned ahead for a sober non-drinking designated drivers these numbers could be lowered to Zero.

Those arrested and convicted for DUI can expect jail time, vehicle storage or impound fees, license suspension, fines, fees, DUI classes, insurance rates will increase and other expenses that can push the cost of an arrest to over $10,000; not to mention the embarrassment they’ll face around family, friends and co-workers.

Please keep our streets and highways safer every day of the week: Report Drunk Drivers – Call 911! Funding for this and other DUI operations are from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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