DUI Checkpoint Scheduled In Union City

UNION CITY, CA — Labor Day weekend is still two weeks away, but Union City Police are kicking off the end of summer enforcement campaign with a DUI checkpoint this Friday, Aug. 17. The exact hours of the checkpoint and its location have not been announced.

According to a release from the UCPD, "From Aug. 17 through Sept. 3, the Union City Police Department is participating in a high-visibility national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. During this period, Police and Sheriff’s Departments statewide, along with the California Highway Patrol, will increase the number of officers on the road to stop suspected drunk or drug impaired drivers and motorcyclists. If you are caught driving or riding impaired, you can be pulled over and arrested."

While the checkpoint is planned in Union City, be aware that nearby departments will also be on the lookout for impaired drivers. One of the goals is to educate drivers that "DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze." If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning label, you may be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also cause impairment and result in a DUI, especially when combined with alcohol or other drugs. In fact, from 2005-2015, the percentage of drivers involved in fatal crashes with drugs in their system rose from 26.2 percent to 42.6 percent.

Here are safety tips from the Union City Police Department:

• Always designate a sober driver.
• Have a plan to get home safely. Think about using public transportation or a ride sharing service to get home.
• Think about taking the keys away from friends or family members who are impaired and/or help them make arrangements to get home safely.
• Report drunk drivers - call 911.

Download the DDVIP app to facilitate getting rides, and to find local businesses that give perks to designated drivers. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!)

The cost of Friday's checkpoint will be covered by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Traffic Safety Administration.

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-Image by Renee Schiavone, Patch