DUI Checkpoint Scheduled In Temecula

TEMECULA, CA — The Riverside County Sheriff's Department is holding a DUI checkpoint this weekend in Temecula, the agency has announced.

Deputies will screen drivers from 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, to 1 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at an undisclosed location within city limits.

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Checkpoint locations are chosen based on data tracking impaired driving-related crashes, with the primary goal of improving public safety by removing compromised drivers from the road, according to the sheriff's department.

"Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk," Deputy Strizver said in a news release. "Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improves traffic safety."

Sheriff's officials warned that impairment is not limited to alcohol. Certain prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs can impair driving abilities. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal in California, driving under the influence of cannabis remains illegal.

First-time DUI offenders face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, along with a driver's license suspension.

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