Public urged to call 911 to report drunken drivers

Redlands Police Officers will conduct a sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29, until 2 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at Citrus Avenue and University Street.

Grant funding for the sobriety checkpoint was provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) which is asking for the public’s help in reporting drunken drivers by calling 911.

“Law enforcement can only do so much,” said OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy. “Knowing that other motorists are going to report drunk drivers is a significant deterrent. And all of our efforts are aimed at preventing a drunk driver from getting behind the wheel in the first place. One phone call really can save a life.”

Motorists should exercise common sense and good judgment when calling 911 to report a drunken driver. Under no circumstances should the public make an attempt to follow or stop the vehicle or interact with the driver.

Signs of a drunken driver include:

• Appearing to be drunk or drinking in the car
• Turning with a wide radius or straddling the center of the road or lane marker
• Almost striking another object or vehicle and weaving or zigzagging across the road
• Turning abruptly or illegally and driving more than 10 mph below the speed limit
• Following others too closely, drifting or moving in a straight line at an angle and erratic braking
• Driving into opposing lanes or crossing traffic or driving with headlights off

Friday’s checkpoint is the first funded under an October 2007 OTS grant awarded to Redlands. The grant provides funding in excess of $350,000 to be used for DUI Checkpoints, DUI Saturation Patrols, Selective Traffic Enforcement and equipment.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 12:33 PM