Police Take Initiative to Make Redlands Responsible

REDLANDS >> The Redlands Police Department conducted a DUI/Driver License checkpoint on Citrus Avenue near Church Street. Motorists driving through the checkpoint were contacted by uniformed officers who checked for alcohol and/or drug-impaired drivers. Officers also checked to make sure all drivers have a valid driver license. The purpose of the checkpoint was to promote public safety, increase awareness of the dangers associated with drinking and driving and serve as a deterrent to potentially impaired and unlicensed drivers. In the past, Redlands Police Department has partnered with Citrus Valley High School students to make the checkpoints a positive experience, handing out free movie tickets to sober drivers who passed through. That particular event was funded by the Citrus Valley High School chapter of Friday Night Live, a statewide alcohol and substance abuse prevention project. They also handed out information about safe-driving. The Redlands Police Department offers the following advice for anyone hosting or planning to attend a get-together or any kind of event where alcohol is served. • Plan ahead. Arrange rides home for your friends, family, co-workers and yourself before the drinking begins. • Those hosting get-togethers and servers must limit drinks to your guests or patrons. Don’t serve more than one or two over several hours. • Identify and provide free non-alcoholic drinks to the Designated Sober Driver. • Cut back on the amount of drinks you plan to bring to the party – and provide plenty of food. • If you see dangerous driving, Report Drunk Drivers – Call 9-1-1! Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. DUI checkpoints are components of the Redlands Police Department’s Responsible Redlands initiative. The Redlands Police Department, with the support of state agencies, including the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and Office of Traffic Safety, the County of San Bernardino and local businesses and community groups, launched the initiative in late August 2013 to focus on enforcing alcohol laws. The Responsible Redlands initiative aims to curb the problems related to binge and underage drinking in Redlands in order to achieve a safer, healthier community. The campaign includes DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols to identify intoxicated drivers, party patrols to enforce the City’s Social Host Ordinance, decoy operations to cite businesses and individuals who provide alcohol to underage persons and educational efforts for local businesses that serve alcohol. Responsible Redlands welcomes partnerships with alcohol retailers and establishments that serve alcohol. The Responsible Redlands initiative addresses problems related to binge and underage drinking through ongoing strategic operations to enforce alcohol laws. It is a collaborative effort formed and led by the Redlands Police Department, supported by the Common Vision Coalition, local businesses and the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control District Office and State Office of Traffic Safety.