By Sergeant Bill Hennebry
The City of Goleta places great emphasis on enhancing the safety of all people in our community. One way our traffic safety unit does this is by conducting traffic safety checkpoints. These checkpoints are conducted to ensure motorists are complying with motor vehicle laws (including driving under the influence statutes).
Why Checkpoints?
The City of Goleta utilizes traffic safety checkpoints to promote safety for motorists using the public roadways and to provide a deterrent for those who violate laws contained in the California Vehicle Code. The intent of a traffic safety checkpoint is to provide a high-visibility, public safety service that is focused on drivers having a valid license and not driving under the influence.
Traffic safety checkpoints allow the City an opportunity to periodically concentrate its efforts in checking for violations of California traffic and regulatory laws and ultimately increasing the safety of our citizens.
What To Do at a Checkpoint?
Drivers encountering a traffic safety checkpoint are requested to have their operator’s license readily accessible. Drivers with this information in-hand, no violations of law and minimal roadway congestion can expect to be delayed for no more than 30 seconds to one minute of their time.
Latest Goleta Checkpoint Findings
The most recent Goleta traffic safety checkpoint conducted in June contacted over 1,300 drivers and found no drivers under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. This was significant due to the fact that it was graduation weekend and those who had gone out to dinner to celebrate with their families had appointed designated drivers. Four drivers were found with no valid California license and three were driving on a suspended license. All were appropriately handled within the vehicle code.
Additional traffic safety checkpoints will be conducted throughout the year. The City of Goleta wishes to thank citizens and students in our community for this most recent positive outcome.
Keep up the responsible driving, Goleta!