DUI Checkpoint Scheduled Friday In Carlsbad

CARLSBAD, CA — Authorities will conduct a DUI checkpoint Friday in Carlsbad in memory of two California Highway Patrol officers who lost their lives in northern San Diego County.

The Sean Nava and Stephen Linen Memorial DUI Checkpoint will take place at an undisclosed location in the city, according to the CHP. Officers from the CHP's Oceanside area office and the Carlsbad Police Department will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

"All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on our local roadways by intoxicated drivers," CHP Sgt. Mark Keyes said. "Removing impaired drivers saves lives, and that's our No. 1 goal.

"A sobriety checkpoint is a proven effective tool and is designed to augment existing patrol operations," Keyes added. "Traffic volume permitting, all vehicles will be checked for drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Our objective is to send a clear message to individuals who consider driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs: You will be caught, and your vehicle will be towed away."

The date and location of the checkpoint were chosen to coincide with two separate incidents that took the lives of CHP officers assigned to the Oceanside area office, Keyes said. On Oct. 28, 2000, Officer Sean Nava was struck and killed by an impaired driver as he investigated a traffic collision on Interstate 5 in Carlsbad. On Aug. 12, 2001, Officer Stephen Linen was struck and killed by an impaired driver as he conducted an enforcement stop on I-5 in Encinitas.

"The threat posed by impaired drivers is very real and quite serious, as evidenced by the ultimate sacrifice paid by these two heroes," Keyes said.

Funding for the checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.