BLM DUI checkpoint in effect on public lands throughout Imperial County
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MORENO VALLEY, Calif. – Law enforcement officers of the Bureau of Land Management are conducting a driving under the influence and registration checkpoint between noon to 2 a.m., from Nov. 21 to 26, on public lands in the unincorporated areas of Imperial County, to include the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.
Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and drug impairment, while checking for proper registration and licensing where required. When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving.
DUI checkpoints are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests—affording the greatest opportunity for achieving drunken and drugged driving deterrence. Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and the public in mind.
“We want the people to have fun and enjoy our public lands over the Thanksgiving holiday, but we want to remind them to be responsible and designate a sober driver or rider,” said BLM Supervisory Law Enforcement Ranger George Masner. “Impaired drivers not only risk their own safety but also the safety of those around them. Operating a street vehicle or off-highway vehicle while impaired is especially dangerous.”
The deterrent effect of DUI checkpoints is a proven resource in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug involved crashes. Research shows that crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized DUI checkpoints and proactive DUI patrols are conducted routinely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the latest data shows more than 10 thousand people were killed by an impaired driving in the state of California.
Law enforcement rangers are reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Drivers – Call 9-1-1.’ The BLM is committed to keeping the public safe. For more information, visit the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/BLMImperialSandDunes.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.