San Gabriel Police Department

DUI/Drivers License checkpoint Planned

San Gabriel Police Department Traffic Unit conducted a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m.  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 contacted drivers passing through the checkpoint for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment.  Officers checked for proper licensing and strived to delay motorists only momentarily. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, other expenses that can exceed $10,000.

“Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions have claimed countless lives and resulted in injury crashes harming many of our friends and neighbors,” said Police Chief David A. Lawton.

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 drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public.

“Deaths from drunk and drug-impaired driving are going down in California,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).  “But that still means that hundreds of our friends, family and co-workers are killed each year, along with tens of thousands who are seriously injured. We must all continue to work together to bring an end to these tragedies. 

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to San Gabriel Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to continue to work together to bring an end to these tragedies.  If you see a Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1.

San Gabriel Police Department Participated in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Saturday, April 27, 2013

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

The San Gabriel Police Department collaborated with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which took place on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.  This was a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted or unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  More than six million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2011 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  The same study also revealed that 70% of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, or the home medicine cabinet.  Each day, approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time as reported by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.  In addition, Americans are now advised that typical methods for disposing unused medicines; flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, both pose potential safety and health hazards.

During the previous five take-back events, the DEA in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies collected over two million pounds (1,018 tons) of prescription medications nationwide, of which more than 58 thousand pounds were collected in the greater Los Angeles area alone.

The San Gabriel Police Department   acted as an official drug collection site on Saturday, April 27, 2013.  You may bring your unwanted prescription drugs to the San Gabriel Police Department, 625 South Del Mar Avenue, San Gabriel, CA 91776.  For further information, contact Lieutenant Brian Kott at (626) 308-2835 or BK076@sgpd.com.