Temecula DUI Checkpoint Scheduled This Weekend, More Crackdowns Coming

TEMECULA, CA — A DUI checkpoint is scheduled this weekend in Temecula, and motorists are advised that more crackdowns will take place over the next several months.

Deputies from the Southwest Sheriff's Station will conduct the upcoming operation from 7 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m. Saturday. The exact spot was not disclosed but the sheriff's department said DUI checkpoint locations "are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes."

Most people are aware that driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is illegal, but some forget that prescription medications that interfere with driving ability can lead to a DUI.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI conviction face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license, according to the sheriff's department.

The DUI checkpoint comes the same week that the Southwest Sheriff's Station announced it had received a $191,445 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The money will be used to increase safety on Temecula roads, according to the sheriff's department.

"This grant funding allows us to support our ongoing traffic safety efforts in the community," Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Deputy Opice said. "Our intent is to stop the most unlawful and dangerous behaviors that put people at risk ... ."

According to the department, the grant will provide funding for additional programs and operations, including:

• DUI checkpoints and patrols
• Distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers who violate the state's hands-free cell phone law
• Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put cyclists and pedestrians at risk
• Crackdowns on top violations that cause crashes, such as speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes
• Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, bicycle and pedestrian safety
• Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies
• Officer training and/or recertification

The grant program will run through September 2023.