DUI Checkpoints & Crime on the Road, Sobriety Checkpoints

Chief of Police Scott Paulin has provided three articles that include valuable information, two of which relate to problems that may be created by driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. This issue becomes more prevalent during the holiday season with increased opportunities for celebrations, so he offers timely advice that can help us all get through the holiday season happily and safely! The third article advises us of changes in the law that will become effective in 2009.

Chief Paulin states: Don’t risk endangering yourself, others, or take the chance of being arrested if you have drunk too much to drive. The City of Sausalito encourages everyone to have fun and safe holiday celebrations by not driving while intoxicated. Thank you.

Report Drunk Drivers – Call 911
Spotting & Reporting Drunk Drivers Tip Sheet

How to Report a Drunk Driver

1. Call 911 and tell them you wish to report a drunk driver. You do not have to give your name.

2. Give the exact location of the vehicle, including the name of the road or cross streets and the direction the vehicle is traveling.

3. Give a complete description of the vehicle, such as make, model, color, and license plate number.

4. Describe the manner in which the vehicle is being driven.

5. Do not follow or try to stop the car or detain the driver. Leave that to trained professionals to protect your safety.

How to Spot a Drunk Driver

The following signs can help you detect an impaired driver on the road:

• Turning with too wide of a radius

• Straddling the center of the road or lane marker

• Appearing to be drunk (i.e., eye fixation, face close to windshield, drinking in the vehicle)

• Almost striking an object or another vehicle

• Weaving, drifting, or zigzagging across the road

• Driving on surfaces other than a designated roadway

• Turning abruptly or illegally

• Driving slower than 10 mph below the speed limit

• Stopping without cause in a traffic lane

• Stopping inappropriately

• Following others too closely

• Driving into curbs

• Erratic braking

• Driving into opposing or crossing traffic

• Signaling that is inconsistent with driving actions

• Slow response to traffic signals, including sudden stops and delayed starts

• Driving with headlights off at night
And so you can enjoy your New Year’s Eve celebration and not run the risk of driving while under the influence .

                                              “WE’LL DRIVE YOU HOME”
                                   Call 415-497-4760 On New Year’s Eve!

The City of Sausalito offers a program that will provide Sausalito residents a free and safe ride to and from any location within the City limits of Sausalito on New Year’s Eve. What a safe and sane solution!

There are many celebration parties occurring in Sausalito at local clubs, restaurants, bars, and residences. Two large passenger vans will be on-call throughout the night to give any resident a ride to and from a New Year’s celebration within the City of Sausalito. When residents are ready go to their party or night out on the town, simply call 415-497-4760 on New Year’s Eve, and one of the vans will respond to take you there. When residents are ready to leave their party location for home simply call 415-497-4760 again and one of the vans will respond to take you home safely.

Van services will run from 7:00 p.m. on December 31st, 2008 to 2:30 a.m. on January 1st, 2009.

NEW CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE INFORMATION

Text Messaging While Driving is Prohibited:
Starting January 1, 2009, it will be a violation of the Vehicle Code (Section 23123.5) to use an electronic wireless communications device to write, send, or read a text based communication while driving a motor vehicle. Text-based communication includes, but is not limited to, communications referred to as a text message, instant message, or electronic mail. A violation of this provision is punishable by a base fine of $20 for the first offense and a $50 base fine for each subsequent offense.

This law does not prohibit a driver from dialing and/or receiving phone calls while driving, although it is discouraged.

Global Positioning System (GPS) Devices attached to the Windshield:
Your GPS device can now be attached to your windshield under the provisions of Vehicle Code Section 26708, which has been amended to allow for a GPS device to be mounted in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver (passenger’s side), or a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver. This device must only be used for navigational purposes while driving and must be mounted outside of an airbag deployment zone. Satellite radio devices and any other mountable devices are still not allowed to be attached to the windshield. Any device is still allowed to be mounted to the dashboard itself. This takes effect on January 1, 2009.

Prohibited Use of Hand-held Wireless Telephone Questions:
Just a refresher on the two laws dealing with the use of wireless telephones while driving that went into effect July 1, 2008. And yes, you can be stopped for the mere fact that you are on your cellular phone while driving.
Under the California Vehicle Code, Section 23123, all drivers are prohibited from using a handheld wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle. Motorists 18 and over may use a “hands-free device” while driving.

The second law, Vehicle Code Section 23124, prohibits drivers under the age of 18 from using a wireless telephone or hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers are allowed to use the speaker function of their phone as long as they are not holding the phone.

The base fine for the first offense is $20 and $50 for subsequent convictions. With the addition of penalty assessments, the fine can be more than triple the base fine amount. The violation is a reportable offense and will appear on your dirving record, but a violation point will not be assigned.

The law does allow a driver to use a wireless telephone to make emergency calls to a law enforcement agency, a medical provider, the fire department, or other emergency services

Headlight Requirement During Incliment Weather:

Please remember that your vehicle’s headlights must be used when there is a condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow, fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.