The Palm Springs Police Department announced Friday that two people were arrested and 10 were cited during a DUI checkpoint last night.
In an effort to encourage drivers to buckle up, avoid distractions, follow the speed limit and not drive impaired, officers conducted the checkpoint from 7 p.m. Thursday until 1 a.m. Friday in the 2000 block of East Ramon Road, according to the Palm Spring Police Department. Of the 518 vehicles screened at the checkpoint, 10 people were cited and two were arrested, one for DUI and one for other unspecified criminal charges.
The checkpoint location was determined based on data of impaired driving-related crashes, police said. Impaired driving also includes cannabis products, some prescription medication and over-the-counter drugs that could interfere with driving.
To further encourage drivers to travel safely during the last days of summer, additional officers will also be on patrol until Labor Day Monday looking for suspected DUI drivers, according to police. The additional preventative efforts are part of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” national enforcement campaign, police said.
“The community’s well-being is our top priority, so we’re asking that if you know you’ll be out drinking to have a game plan for how to get home safely,” PSPD Sgt. Kevin Lu said in a statement Thursday. “There is never a good excuse for driving after drinking or using drugs that impair.”
Police asked residents who see someone driving impaired to call 911.