Sheriff’s deputies will be screening vehicles, looking for intoxicated drivers Friday in La Quinta, officials said Wednesday.
A DUI/driver’s license checkpoint will be operated at an undisclosed location in the city between 7 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m. Saturday, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies will be looking for motorists driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, along with proper licensing. In recent years, California has seen an increase in drug-impaired driving crashes, according to the sheriff’s department.
Marijuana can also lead to a DUI, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs.
Those arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can spend time in jail and pay up to $13,500, including fines, fees, classes, license suspensions and other expenses.
Over the last two years, deputies from the La Quinta sheriff’s station investigated 59 DUI crashes, including two that were fatal, and 21 involving injuries.
Funding for the checkpoint is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.