Government » Departments and Divisions » Police » Crime Prevention » Traffic Safety

DUI Awareness

Font Size: + -
Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option
Print
DUI Education Program - "Every 15 Minutes"
 TrafficDUIEvery15Min

Every 15 minutes in the United States, someone is killed by an impaired (DUI) driver. In recognition of this statistic, and as part of the Costa Mesa Police Department's commitment to the community's youth, the Department offers the Every 15 Minutes Program to educate first-time drivers and their parents about the danger of driving under the influence.

DuiCarCollision 

The program, presented biannually at Estancia and Costa Mesa High Schools, is a combination of lecture and live theatre that includes a staged collision with police and fire response.  The lectures are presented not by teachers, but by the officers who actually investigate DUI-related accidents.  Representatives from Mothers Against Drunk Driving are typically in attendance and the program concludes with a video presentation from the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner's Office.  The program is held within the last few weeks of graduation so the message and its impact are carried throughout those days of celebration.

DUI Checkpoint Program

 DuiCheckPoint
The Costa Mesa Police Department is committed to keeping our city streets safe from those who choose to drive while impaired.  We maintain a full-time DUI team and annually conduct a minimum of twelve DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety. These checkpoints are run not only by Costa Mesa officers, but often in conjunction with members of the California Highway Patrol, Santa Ana, and Newport Beach Police Departments.

Drivers contacted by officers at the scene are provided with educational literature and screened for any trace of impairment.  Notification of the date, time, and location of checkpoints are posted in the local news and on this website.

Costa Mesa PD has a zero tolerance policy with regards to driving under the influence.  If you choose to drink and drive in Costa Mesa and are stopped by one of our officers, you will go to jail!