Sobriety checkpoints planned for Saturday in Morgan Hill and San
Jose People celebrating the end of summer this Labor Day weekend
would be wise to avoid local roads and highways if they
’ve been drinking or taking drugs.
People celebrating the end of summer this Labor Day weekend would be wise to avoid local roads and highways if they’ve been drinking or taking drugs.
Local police and the California Highway patrol will have an increased presence on the road during the long weekend, according to Morgan Hill Police Cmdr. Joe Sampson. On Saturday, MHPD will hold a sobriety checkpoint on Monterey Road south of John Wilson Way and San Jose Police will host a checkpoint on Blossom Hill Road at Snell Avenue.
Eighty percent of all CHP officers will be out on the road this weekend, according to Otto Knorr, commander of Hollister-Gilroy CHP.
“We would much rather the public heed the warning and voluntarily observe our traffic safety messages than give them a ticket,” Knorr said.
More MHPD officers will also be out on patrol, thanks to an enforcement grant from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, Sampson said.
“Although there have been no serious injury collisions involving alcohol this summer, the Morgan hill Police Department has arrested approximately 45 people since June 1 for driving under the influence of alcohol,” said Sampson.
With increased enforcement, Sampson said, the department hopes to discourage residents who might be tempted to drive after drinking and to take those who have been drinking off the road before an accident occurs.
Last Labor Day weekend, 53 people were killed on state roadways, two of them in the CHP’s Hollister-Gilroy jurisdiction.
Both the CHP and MHPD would like to see that statistic go down this year. Safety measures, such as seatbelts and designated drivers, are simple but effective ways to make that happen, Sampson said.
“As always, the MHPD encourages everyone to wear their seatbelt, it’s the law, and designate a driver if they plan to drink alcoholic beverages,” he added. “Let’s all work together to end the summer with a fun, relaxing and safe weekend.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
