Sobriety Checkpoints Save Lives

By Sargent Spencer Cannon, Utah County Sheriff's Office and SMART member 

We all hear news reports regarding the impact that impaired drivers have on individuals, families, and even on society.  When lives are lost, or shattered as a result of a crash where a driver was impaired, people ask, “Why did this person drive drunk?”, or “How can we make sure this doesn’t happen again?”  The sad reality is that so far there is no perfect solution.  Efforts to reduce the incidence of impaired driving are experiencing success and public education measures have some success, yet there is more to be done.

About Sobriety Checkpoints and Saturation Patrols

The Utah Highway Safety Office (UHSO) has sponsored a traffic safety program aimed at reducing the number of traffic fatalities in Utah.  This program is called, “Zero Fatalities – A Goal We Can All Live With.”  While this program is focused on all traffic fatalities, it gives focus to the various causes of crashes with traffic fatalities, including impaired driving.

            

In its effort to reduce traffic fatalities, which result from impaired driving crashes, the UHSO provides funding for law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Utah to conduct DUI enforcement operations.  This funding can support agencies which conduct sobriety checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols.  They also provide regular funding for law enforcement agencies to conduct regular DUI patrols throughout the year.

Source: Drive Sober, Get Pulled Over website

Sobriety checkpoints are very effective tools that can give precise focus to areas known to be problematic as it relates to DUI drivers.  Agencies must follow specific and clearly defined guidelines in establishing locations to conduct these checkpoints.  They must plan the location for the checkpoint and the written plan must be approved by a judge before any agency is allowed to carry out the checkpoint.  Saturation patrols can also be effective, as they provide maximum numbers of officer, Troopers, and deputies working overtime shifts.  These patrols put large numbers of officers in areas and at times when there is a higher likelihood of finding and arresting impaired drivers.

Tragedy Avoided - barely 

One example of a potential tragedy avoided was at a sobriety checkpoint conducted in American Fork Canyon on SR-92 on July 21, 2012.  A driver was stopped at the checkpoint and was determined to be impaired through alcohol and drug use.  He was significantly impaired and posed a significant risk to himself and others on the road.  To make matters worse, he had young children in the car with him.  This man made the choice to drive on his own, unfortunately the children in his car had to rely on his judgment to keep them safe.  Thankfully, tragedy was avoided as an alert deputy determined that this man could not legally be on the road.  Unfortunately, not all impaired drivers are arrested – as a result lives are lost or ruined through injury.

Checkpoints Happening this Holiday Season

This holiday season, from December 13, 2012 through January 1, 2013, the UHSO has provided 600, five hour overtime shifts dedicated to finding and arresting impaired drivers.  Whether it is a sobriety checkpoint or a saturation patrol, officers, Troopers, and deputies will find impaired drivers and remove them from the road.  Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over!