Sentinel staff report–
The Citrus Heights Police Department announced in a news release last week that officers will be conducting a DUI checkpoint from 8 p.m. on Dec. 12 to 2 a.m. on Dec. 13, in an undisclosed location in the city.
DUI checkpoint locations are determined after analyzing data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes, according to police. The purpose of DUI checkpoints is to “promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road.”
Q&A: Why do police announce DUI checkpoints in advance?
Past checkpoint operations typically include officers briefly stopping vehicles to look for signs of alcohol and drug impairment, as well as checking drivers for valid licensing. Police also advise that drugs can also impair driving, including many prescription drugs and even some over-the-counter medications. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal, police warned.
As previously reported on The Sentinel, the Citrus Heights Police Department says it announces DUI operations in advance as a public awareness tool to help deter drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel in the first place. The department also regularly deploys “DUI Saturation Patrols,” which specifically search for and pull over drivers showing signs of intoxication.
Funding for CHPD’s checkpoints comes from a California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) grant through the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration.
Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties and a suspended license, according to police.
