Police will monitor for alcohol, prescription drug, and marijuana impairment.
Santa Monica police officers will patrol for impaired motorists on Friday during a DUI checkpoint scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location.
The department selects checkpoint sites by analyzing historical data on alcohol- and drug-related collisions. While the operations result in arrests, officials emphasized that the primary objective is to deter intoxicated motorists and promote general traffic safety.
Police warned that impairment is not limited to alcohol. Certain prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs can hinder driving ability, and operating a vehicle remains illegal under the influence of marijuana, regardless of its legal status in California.
The legal consequences for a first-time DUI conviction are steep, typically resulting in a license suspension and an average of $13,500 in fines and associated penalties.
Funding for the enforcement program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
