The Hollister Police Department will conduct a DUI and driver license checkpoint on St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday widely known across the country for, among other things, abundant alcohol consumption.
The checkpoint will start 5pm Sunday, March 17, and continue to 1am March 18, according to a press release from Hollister Police. The checkpoint will take place at an undisclosed location inside the city limits.
The aim of the checkpoint is to enforce DUI and state vehicle laws, and educate motorists about the dangers of impaired driving. According to data from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), one person was killed and 48 others were injured in DUI crashes on St. Patrick’s Day in 2018, reads the police department’s press release. In 2017, 59 people died nationwide in drunk driving crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday (March 16-March 18), accounting for 37 percent of all traffic deaths.
“Due to St. Patrick’s Day becoming a dangerous holiday on our roads, the Hollister Police Department encourages everyone to plan ahead and use a designated sober driver, rideshare or public transportation,” reads the press release. “Even one drink can be one too many.”
Police also warn motorists that “DUI doesn’t just mean booze.” Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medication and marijuana can be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol.
Funding for St. Patrick’s Day DUI enforcement comes from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
