Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office to Hold DUI Checkpoint
To keep the roads and community safe this holiday season, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office will conduct a DUI checkpoint at an undisclosed location on Saturday, December 17, 2022.
The Sheriff’s Office said deputies are prepared to stop and arrest anyone driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Deputies have specialized training that will help them detect impaired motorists and remove them from county roadways.
The Cost of Driving Impaired
Statistics show that the yearly cost of alcohol-related collisions totals over $44 billion. Drunk drivers often face the loss of their driver’s licenses, jail time, higher insurance rates, and many other unexpected expenses, such as court costs, attorney fees, lost wages due to time off from work, having a car towed, and collision repair.
Tips for Safe Driving
Just one drink can hinder your judgment and increase the chance of getting arrested or, worse, getting into an accident and injuring or killing someone. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office provided the following tips for safe driving:
- Plan ahead: Don’t drive if you plan to drink. Designate a driver before heading to an event.
- Be smart: Do not drive home if you have been drinking at a party. Call a friend, a family member, an uber, or a taxi, or use public transportation to get to your destination.
- Be responsible: If a friend or family member has been drinking, do not let them drive.
- Take action: If you see an intoxicated driver on the road, call 911 to report them. Your actions may help save another person’s life.
The first step in staying safe on the road is to be a sober driver. The Sheriff’s Office reminds everyone to continue following the traffic road rules, putting away their cell phones, wearing their seat belts, and keeping an eye out for reckless drivers.
Impaired Driving is a Huge Problem in the U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 29 Americans die in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver every day, which is one death every 50 minutes. According to 2016 data:
- 10,497 people in the United States were killed in drunk driving crashes, accounting for 28 percent of all traffic-related deaths.
- Of the traffic-related deaths, 214 involved children under age 14.
- Over one million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- 13 percent of evening and weekend drivers had marijuana in their system.
- Drivers who use marijuana are about 25 percent more likely to be involved in a traffic accident than non-users.
Watch the YouTube video below to learn about the consequences of drunk driving from a young man’s experience.
Compensation for Damages in Drunk Driving Crashes
Accidents involving drunk or high drivers can cause serious injuries, severe trauma, and death. Those injured by an impaired driver are entitled to file a compensation claim for damages. Recoverable damages can include the following:
- Car repair bills
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
- Wrongful death
Modesto Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Modesto Personal Injury Attorney. Driving under the influence of alcohol can lead to devastating consequences for all parties involved. If you have suffered serious injuries or a loved one was killed in an accident involving a drunk driver, our experienced legal team can guide you through the claims process for your losses. Call our Modesto law office at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly, and compassionate advice.
Since 1982, our personal injury law firm has assisted residents of Stanislaus County and the greater Northern California area with their accident and wrongful death cases.
Go to our verdicts and settlements page to see the types of cases we have obtained for our clients.
Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay
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