A dozen people were arrested or ticketed in a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint in Huntington Beach, authorities announced Saturday.
The operation took place at Main Street and Yorktown Avenue and began at 7 p.m. Friday and ended at 3 a.m. Saturday, according to Sgt. Julio Mendez of the Huntington Beach Police Department.
A total of 841 vehicles passed through the checkpoint and 377 vehicles were screened. Three people were arrested on suspicion of DUI, one was arrested on other criminal charges, three drivers were ticketed for driving without a license or driving on a suspended license and five tickets were issued for other vehicle code violations, Mendez said.
The Huntington Beach Police Department supports an effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Drivers who take prescription drugs, particularly those with a label warning against driving or operating machinery, might be enough to get a DUI, Mendez said.
Police offered reminders to ensure a fun night doesn’t get spoiled with a DUI:
— Decide before you go out whether you plan to drink or drive. You can’t do both.
— If you plan to drink, designate a sober driver before going out, or map out another way to get home safely by taking a cab, ride-share service like Lyft or Uber or use public transportation. You can also look up designated driver services in your area using the National Directory of Designated Driver Services (NDDDS).
— If you are a designated driver, bars and restaurants statewide have created non-alcoholic specialty drinks for sober drivers.
— If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, call 911. Offer a description of the vehicle, location and direction of travel
— If your friend or another patron is impaired and trying to get behind the wheel, police say to take the keys or help them make other arrangements to get where they are going safely.
Drivers convicted of DUI can expect the impact of an arrest to be approximately $13,500, which includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expense, plus possible jail time.