Pittsburg DUI Saturation Patrols Nets Arrests

Pittsburg, CA – The Pittsburg Police Department conducted a DUI Saturation Patrol on Friday December 15th and Monday December 18th throughout the City of Pittsburg concentrating on the City’s major thoroughfares between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m.  High Visibility Enforcement efforts like this have a deterrent effect, lowering the incidents of impaired driving.

The two saturation patrols yielded the following results:

• (45)      Vehicle enforcement stops
• (4)        SFST’s Conducted
• (0)        DUI-Alcohol suspects arrested
• (3)        DUI-Drug impaired suspects arrested

**        Arrested on other Criminal Charges: one subject arrested for DUI also attempted to evade the police in a vehicle pursuit and was charged with Felony Evading and possession of methamphetamine

• (3)        Drivers cited/arrested for operating a vehicle unlicensed
• (9)        Drivers cited for operating a vehicle with a suspended/revoked license
• (4)        Other citations issued

In recent years, California has seen a disturbing increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. The Pittsburg Police Department supports the new effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.”  If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI.  Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

Studies of California drivers have shown that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent).  Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.

Drivers are encouraged to download the Designated Driver VIP, or “DDVIP,” free mobile app for Android or iPhone.  The DDVIP app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver, from free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers and more.  The feature-packed app even has social media tie-ins and even a tab for the non-DD to call Uber, Lyft or Curb.

Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses that can exceed $10,000 not to mention the embarrassment when friends and family find out.

The Pittsburg Police Department will be conducting DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoints and/or DUI saturation Patrol throughout the year in our ongoing commitment to lowering deaths and injuries upon our streets and highways.

The DUI Saturation Patrol was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Drivers – Call 9-1-1’.