For further information, contact:
Jan Ford, Public Information
Avoid the 8-Law Enforcement in San Francisco
(650) 322-9121
Cell: (650) 269-2148

SATURDAY, JUNE 26, SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SET FOR SAN FRANCISCO

 San Francisco police plan a sobriety checkpoint for Saturday, June 26, in the city. It will begin at 8:30 p.m. at a location to be announced two hours ahead and end past midnight.

“We’ll be checking for sobriety and driver’s licenses,” said Sgt. Neil Swendsen of SFPD’s Traffic Company. “Expect a short delay.”

While police will find any impaired drivers coming through the checkpoint, Swendsen has advice for people who see other drivers who appear to be distracted, drunk or high on drugs.

“Here’s what officers look for, and you can do the same,” he said. “Drunk drivers usually can’t stay in their own lanes. They serve, straddle the lane line, drift across lanes and make wide turns.

“They also can’t stop properly. They come to a screeching halt, or stop in the intersection or way before it. They can’t pay attention, either. They drive in opposing lanes or the wrong way on a one-way street. They just sit there at green lights and drive without headlights at night.”

If you see this kind of thing, he recommended, “call 911 on your cell phone and turn the driver in. You’ll be doing a huge favor for everyone else.”

Police time for the sobriety checkpoint is covered by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
# # #