Final Numbers in on Humboldt County AVOID The 10 DUI Campaign Weekend

AVOID

The final numbers are in for the Humboldt County AVOID The 10 DUI Campaign Weekend. The Fortuna Police Department provided this press release offering final results:

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CA – This past Labor Day holiday period, the Avoid the 10 partnered with law enforcement statewide in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over drunk-driving enforcement campaign. From August 19-September 5, local police, sheriff and CHP showed zero tolerance for impaired driving, arresting 56 offenders for the deadly crime.

“For us, saving one life would make the campaign worthwhile,” said Sergeant Charles Ellebrecht. “We wanted our community to know that we do not tolerate drunk driving. Our law enforcement was out in full force, pulling over and arresting drivers who were under the influence. We wanted people to know the message: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” he said. Through TV, radio, social media the high-visibility enforcement campaign aimed to increase awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. According to NHTSA, this aggressive approach has proven effective in the past for enforcing other types of traffic safety laws, such as seat belts usage.

“We encourage anyone heading out for the night to please plan a safe ride home before you take the first sip, This is a key to preventing drunk driving. If everyone planned ahead, lives would be saved.”

“There is never a safe time to drink and drive,” said Chief William Dobberstein. “In partnership with NHTSA, we ask everyone to please consider the deadly consequences of their actions. Remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, every day of the year.”

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

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the misadventures of bunjee
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the misadventures of bunjee
7 years ago

“For us, saving one life would make the campaign worthwhile,” said Sergeant Charles Ellebrecht.”

You missed one in Arcata, guys.

SJR
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SJR
7 years ago

Just shows how important it is for everyone to be pro active in preventing driving under the influence.

Mike
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Mike
7 years ago

And have not yet got the one that killed two

Jerrbobmickyphilbillpigbrent
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Jerrbobmickyphilbillpigbrent
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Probably not going to happen. If I was the parent of one the girls, I would be making family arrangements to get ready for my incarceration. Josh and Marci’s family would be making other arrangements. Her not going to jail for the killing of her own daughter, I can live with. She needs to pay for the other innocent life she took.

grammy
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grammy
7 years ago

Sure would be nice if all of these DUI drivers got the hammer put down on them! Seems DUI drivers whom actually kill people get off with a slap on the hand! I say it’s gross negligence of our Humboldt County Justice System and we need to weed through them and if they can’t do their jobs they need to go!!

G-ma
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G-ma
7 years ago

As much as this is a great idea,one question I have,why tell where you set up at?isn’t it suppose to be a surprise?other wise if your Frickin drunk you can avoid that street.it just seems dumb to tell

Tiny Rick
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Tiny Rick
7 years ago
Reply to  G-ma

Law enforcement is required to publish the location of the checkpoint in order for it to be legal for them to make random stops. It might be dumb, but the Supreme Court requires it.

Dave
Guest
Dave
7 years ago
Reply to  Tiny Rick

Not really. The requirement to provide any advance publicity was dropped in the California vs. Banks decision more than 20 years ago. However, as a requirement for funding and as best practice, since the whole point of a checkpoint is deterrence through publicity, advance notice of day and general location (like what city) is given. Giving the exact location (like what corner) is up to the PD.

Shak
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Shak
7 years ago

There are other ways to promote safe driving, like using the funds for taxi discounts year round.
The rights videos make valid points. These stops don’t help, they are intrusive on the citizens. They only act as preparation gimmicks for Stalin type scenarios. Acclimating the citizens for unwarranted stops & searches. May I see your papers please?
Meanwhile, the drunk drivers are going unnoticed in other parts of town.

Dave
Guest
Dave
7 years ago
Reply to  Shak

First, you are wrong about the other ways being better. Actual scientific studies have been done on this. For very long term behavior change, there must be social norming, or convincing the public that an action is anti-social and they will be scorned for doing it (think cigarettes). That takes decades, and has actually been working with DUI, as the fatality rate has been cut in half over the last 30 years. For short term results, enforcement measures work. Checkpoints are highly visible, highly publicized events meant to deter drinking and driving in the first place. Checkpoints have been shown to have the potential to lower DUI fatality rates by up to 20 percent by virtue of their deterrence. People go through them, drive past them, hear about them via multiple grapevines and get the ongoing impression that drunk driving is dangerous, socially unacceptable, and that law enforcement is actively looking for it.

Patrols are meant to catch active drunks, get them off the streets and prosecute them. Patrols have little deterrent value, but high enforcement value. They are both good tactics and both should be in the arsenal of DUI combating tactics, along with others. In terms of catching drunks, nothing beats patrols. In terms of saving lives, nothing beats checkpoints.

Second, when people complain about checkpoints, calling them Nazi or Stalin tactics, they are forgetting one thing. When those regimes “asked for papers,” that meant show me your state-issued internal passport that often said who you were, what job you had, where you were allowed to travel to, what restrictions on your movements had been placed on you, what religion you were. If you were someplace you weren’t supposed to be, you got arrested. At DUI checkpoints, they ask for your drivers license, which you must have to operate the vehicle you are driving. And they check to see if you show signs of impairment. That is vastly different than Nazi “show me your papers,” shows a lack of understanding of history as well as demeans what the people of Germany, Russia and Europe went through.

Shak
Guest
Shak
7 years ago
Reply to  Dave

Like I mentioned, normalizing. It’s nothing but behavior control.
While it’s good to catch culprits before they do harm, there is nothing right or good about skipping probable cause & putting all citizens through unwarranted scenarios.
We’ll just have to agree to disagree.