DUI Checkpoints Net More than Drunk Drivers

After reading comments posted on the recent Novato Patch story titled “,” I wondered if these fruitless checkpoints are really a good use of our resources. The checkpoint, held on May 8, netted only 1 DUI and 11 violations. The comments made after the story was posted were in line with what I was thinking, what a waste of time and money.

The truth is, a majority of people that are cited at checkpoints are unlicensed drivers. This includes people that have allowed their license to lapse, who cannot afford insurance, and people who have had their license revoked or suspended because of a prior DUI.  As it turns out, this is no small problem in California. The DMV estimates that there are over 1 million unlicensed drivers on the road.

The AAA Foundation of Traffic Safety states that unlicensed drivers are some of the most dangerous drivers on the road. Their statistics state that an unlicensed driver is 4.9 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash, 3.7 times more likely to drive impaired, and 4.4 times more likely to be involved in a hit and run accident.

California is finding that DUI checkpoints have become profitable as well, because police collect fines and towing fees. To retrieve an impounded vehicle, the driver will end up paying hundreds of dollars in fines and impound fees.

The Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkley with California Watch determined that 40 million dollars in fees were collected in 2009 from DUI checkpoints alone. These checkpoints are funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety, which pays millions of dollars per year to cover the overtime pay of the police. So, these checkpoints are serving a several purposes, not just catching DUI suspects. Taking unlicensed drivers off the road ultimately saves lives.