SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) is cracking down on drunk and drugged driving and will be conducting more DUI Checkpoints due to new anti-DUI program funding.
On Friday, November 15, the SMPD announced they received a $45,000 traffic safety grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to Santa Monica to bolster their anti-DUI program efforts.
The money will go towards reducing one of America’s deadliest crimes—driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, which killed 774 Californians and injured more than 24,000 in 2011. The SMPD plans to reduce the amount of roadway deaths and injuries by educating the public on the risks involved with drunk and drugged driving and by performing more DUI checkpoints.
According to the police, checkpoints have proven to be the most effective and economical DUI enforcement strategy. Alcohol and drug-induced car crashes have been found to drop as much as 20 percent when checkpoints are conducted frequently and the public is made aware of them. Checkpoints save $6 for every $1 spent and are supported by the vast majority of Californian drivers.
