Personnel from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Thermal Station will conduct a DUI checkpoint next month at an undisclosed location in La Quinta.
The checkpoint will be held from 8 p.m. May 10 until 2 a.m. the following day at a location where there have been a number of impaired driving-related crashes, according to the department.
“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Deputy Timothy Garfin said in a statement. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.”
Impaired driving includes driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, some prescription medication and over-the-counter drugs.
Drivers charged with a first-time DUI can face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties and a suspended license.
Funding for the program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.