SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Sheriff’s deputies conducted checkpoints at two schools in Santee Tuesday morning to promote safe driving to high school students. They wrote several tickets for safety and other violations. They were specifically looking for two things: seat-belt violations and provisional license violations. The checkpoints were set up as a result of the deaths of three different boys in the last two months in tragic rollover accidents. Two of those accidents were alcohol related.
None of the boys who were killed were wearing seatbelts at the time. A fourth teen boy was killed in an accident while speeding home from a football game and wearing only a shoulder harness and no lap belt. One of the drivers in the accident had a provisional license. Provisional licenses are issued to new drivers between the ages of 16 and 18. They last one year. Teens with these licenses are not allowed to drive with passengers under the age of 20 unless a licensed driver age 25 or older is also in the vehicle. They are also prohibited to drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Tuesday’s checkpoints were set up at Santana and West Hills High Schools. Deputies issued 36 citations for 50 separate violations. Several students were issued “fix-it” tickets for infractions, such as not having proof of insurance, not having front license plates, windshield obstructions or tinted windows. Other students received more serious violations. Those included: not wearing seatbelts, talking on cell phones while driving, and illegally driving other students to school with a provisional license. Some students were issued helmet law violations while on bicycles or skateboards.
According to authorities, there will be more checkpoints throughout the holiday season and the New Year. The goal of the process is education and enforcement of the driving laws to prevent future tragic accidents. Hopefully the checkpoints will help reduce the number of tragic fatal car accidents involving teenagers.
The lawyers at Berman & Riedel, LLP take personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout the state of California. Our main office is in San Diego, California. Our lawyers handle complicated claims and ensure that our clients’ legal rights are protected. If you have been involved in an accident in which you were injured or a family member was killed, contact the firm to discuss your case. In addition, you can learn more about personal injury law and wrongful death at www.bermanlawyers.com.
