The San Rafael City Council on Tuesday threw its support behind a controversial drunken-driving program that critics fear tramples on residents' civil rights.
The council voted 5-0 to accept state Office of Traffic Safety grant money for drunken driving and driver's license checkpoints.
Two grants were up for consideration - a $577,154 grant through 2012 for the countywide Avoid the Marin 13 campaign to catch drunken drivers and a San Rafael-specific $94,189 grant for drunken-driving enforcement through Sept. 30, 2009.
Drunken-driving checkpoints have been a lightening rod in the city this summer as citizens have appeared consistently before the council to sound off on a program they say unfairly screens for driver's licenses, particularly near the immigrant-heavy Canal area. The furor arose after a June 13 checkpoint at East Francisco Boulevard and Grand Avenue.
Critics contend the checkpoints violate guidelines set forth by the California Supreme Court and question whether screening for driver's licenses is necessary. Others support the program, saying the laws should apply to everyone equally.
Critic David Rubinson said he and other concerned citizens support drunken-driving checkpoints, but they want the community to be invited to participate in the process.
"This is not a dialogue between people who support or don't support the checkpoints. We all support fighting drunk driving," Rubinson said. "What we're here to beg you to do is involve the community
from the beginning.
"This is a wonderful hearing; it should have been held in June," he said. "This is what we need. We need more of this dialogue, more of this collaboration, because this issue is tearing the community apart."
Councilman Greg Brockbank said that while he is uncomfortable with the driver's license screening, it would be more divisive to halt the efforts outright.
"I believe if we did not approve these checkpoints, we'd be tearing the community apart," he said. "I'd vote no if I thought we were better off without it, but I think we're better off with it."
Authorities contend the checkpoints are legal, appropriate and a necessary tool to combat drunken driving in Marin.
"This is about public safety," San Rafael police Chief Matt Odetto said. The grants are "a mechanism for us to reduce DUI crashes and DUI offenders. That's what this is all about."
Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian strongly urged the council to continue the enforcement program. He said San Rafael had "a very fair and reasoned approach to checkpoints."
"I believe it's vitally important countywide from my perspective to address alcohol abuse in the county," he said. "Alcohol abuse touches so much of what comes into my office."
David Mayer of San Rafael also spoke in favor of the grant programs, saying he wished it could be expanded.
"I'm for the checkpoints. I've observed two of these," said Mayer, who said he went through a checkpoint as a driver this summer. "I was disappointed they didn't ask for registration and insurance."
"I believe the checkpoints are but one part of the approach to effectively addressing this problem of drinking and driving," said Councilman Cyr Miller, who said he strongly supported working closely with the community. "I'm satisfied with us going forward with these grants."
"It's critical for us to do our job to hear all points of view from all corners of San Rafael," Councilman Damon Connolly said. "I think that no one here has disputed that driving under the influence is a huge problem in our society. What I see in these two grants is one tool to combat that huge problem in our community."
City officials said they planned to communicate continuously with the council, Canal community groups and citizens.
"It's our intention to work with the entire community," City Manager Ken Nordhoff said.