Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
Additional officers from the San Bernardino Police Department will be out on patrol on Thursday, August 15, 2020 from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the San Bernardino Police Department is committed to keeping the public safe when they need to run essential errands, “Safety is paramount, but especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Sergeant Jeff Harvey said. “We are all in this together and want everyone to be as safe as possible when they are out. One way to do that is by not driving impaired.”
The San Bernardino Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving or” operating heavy machinery,” which includes driving a car. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.
If you plan on drinking or taking medications that may impact your ability to drive safely, plan on staying at home. Driving sober is your safest bet. Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI will pay a stiff price: an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.
The San Bernardino Police Department will have additional officers on patrol on Friday, August 14, 2020 from 06:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. making sure drivers and passengers are wearing their safety belt. Drivers and passengers who do not have a safety belt on will be stopped and ticketed. This also includes drivers who do not secure children in child safety seats.
In California, the fine for a safety belt violation is $162. The fine for not securing a child in a child safety seat is $490. In 2016, 426 people killed in crashes across the state were unrestrained.
Under California law, children under two years old who weigh under 40 pounds or are under 40 inches tall must ride in a rear-facing car seat. Children under the age of eight or under 4’ 9” tall must be secured in a car or booster seat.
