DUI Checkpoint Friday In Escondido

ESCONDIDO, CA – In an effort to curb drunk and drugged driving around the city, the Escondido Police Department is conducting a DUI and driver's license checkpoint Friday. The department's traffic unit will hold the checkpoint at an undisclosed location that will be chosen based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests, Lt. Mike Kearney said.

"Research shows that crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized proactive DUI operations are conducted routinely," Kearney said.

According to officials, 1,155 people died and nearly 24,000 suffered serious injuries in collisions involving alcohol in 2014 in California.

In the past three years, Escondido police have investigated 187 DUI collisions, which resulted in two deaths and 278 injuries.

During the Friday night checkpoint, officers will be on the lookout for drivers with signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, Kearney said. Deputies will also check for valid licensing.

Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, towing fees and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes and other expenses that can exceed $10,000, according to police.

The checkpoint is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone