Location Chosen Based on Crash Data as Officials Target Impaired Driving
The Santa Monica Police Department will conduct a DUI checkpoint on Friday, September 26, as part of its ongoing effort to reduce impaired driving and improve roadway safety, the department announced in a press statement.
The checkpoint will operate at an undisclosed location within city limits from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
Checkpoint locations are selected based on crash data and areas with a history of DUI-related incidents, officials said. The goal is to remove impaired drivers from the road while also educating the public about the dangers of driving under the influence.
Police emphasized that impairment is not limited to alcohol use. Certain prescription and over-the-counter medications can affect a person’s ability to drive safely, and while marijuana use is legal in California, it is still illegal to operate a vehicle under its influence.
Drivers arrested for a first-time DUI offense face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties and the potential suspension of their driver’s license, authorities warned.
The operation is funded through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, with support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
