San Gabriel Police Department Traffic Unit conducted a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint on Saturday, June 29, 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 also check for proper licensing and 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, 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 to Join Cities Nationwide on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 for the 30^th annual National Night Out campaign

WHAT:     2013 marks the 30^th Anniversary of National Night Out – 19^th participating year for San Gabriel Police Department in this significant event to build unity and strengthen police-community partnerships.

WHEN:     Tuesday, August 6, 2013 – 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm

WHERE:    Throughout the City of San Gabriel

WHO: Residents in neighborhoods of San Gabriel will lock their doors turn on outside lights to spend an evening outside with their neighbors – block parties.  The traditional stopover visits by Police, Fire, City Officials and branches of our armed forces will caravan to visit several block parties throughout San Gabriel.

WHY:      National Night Out, a yearlong community building campaign, is designed to: (1) heighten crime prevention awareness: (2) generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs, (3) strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and (4) send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.