San Rafael City Council Votes to Uphold Controversial DUI Checkpoints

On September 2, the San Rafael City Council voted to accept state Office of Traffic safety grant money in order to continue support of a controversial drunk-driving program which relies on checkpoints to screen for individuals driving under the influence and individuals driving without valid driver's licenses. Two grants were up for consideration before the five member board, a $577,154 grant which would fund the countywide AVOID the Marin 13 Campaign, which would last through 2012, and a San Rafael specific grant for $94,189 to support drunk driving enforcement through September 30, 2009.

The debate which initiated Tuesday night's City Council meeting arose over a Canal neighborhood checkpoint occurring on June 13, 2008, which activists argued was a racially motivated checkpoint installed to locate and detain unlicensed illegal immigrants. During the checkpoint, the San Rafael Police Department arrested forty-seven drivers between the hours of 6pm and 11pm at the checkpoint set up at the intersection of East Francisco Boulevard and Grand Avenue. The checkpoint was then moved to Irwin Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenue until 1:30am. Four of the forty-seven arrested drivers were booked for driving under the influence, while thirty-nine were arrested for driving without a valid license.

The San Rafael Police Department has denied allegations that the checkpoints are even remotely motivated by race, stating instead that the Canal neighborhood had been chosen as a checkpoint location based on statistics regarding traffic accidents and drunk driving arrests. According to the authorities, the checkpoints are legal and necessary in order to combat driving under the influence.

While the approval of funding for the checkpoints was unanimous, certain members of the five member council were still uneasy about the expansion of the checkpoints to include the check for valid driver's licenses. Councilman Greg Brockbank voiced his concern over the idea, but stated that it would be far too divisive within the community if local law enforcement was to call off the checkpoint efforts. As a precaution, city officials have stated that they plan to maintain continuous communication with the City council, community members, and Canal community groups, in order to alleviate local friction.

Please take some time to visit our websites:
San Francisco DUI Attorney
San Mateo DUI Lawyer
Marin County DUI Defense
Northern California DUI Defense Lawyers
San Francisco County DUI Defense Lawyers