San Rafael, CA – With a commitment to keeping the community safe, the San Rafael Police wants to remind the public of the dangers of driving impaired and celebrate the holiday season responsibly by not driving under the influence.

From December 14 through New Year’s Day, SRPD will have additional officers on patrol looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Additionally, a DUI checkpoint is scheduled for Friday, December 16, from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM.  The DUI checkpoint will be held at an undisclosed location.  The extra enforcement effort is part of a national campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, with the goal of stopping suspected impaired drivers who put others on the road at risk. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 11,654 people were killed in car crashes nationwide in 2020 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver, or one person every 45 minutes.

The San Rafael Police encourages everyone to stay in for the night or have a “go safely” game plan by scheduling a ride or designating a sober driver if you plan to consume alcohol.

Impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Marijuana, prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may also impair. Do your research and understand how certain drugs may affect your driving ability.

“The holidays are a special time of year for many, and we want drivers to act responsibly,” Police Chief David Spiller said. “This enforcement period allows us to get the message out that driving impaired is an illegal, senseless behavior that takes lives.”

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.