11:54am | The Long Beach Police Department will be conducting a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint on Saturday from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. Sunday in the West Division area.
The West Division is bounded by Wardlow Road to the north, Cherry Avenue to the east, Anaheim Street to the south and the western city limits to the west.
DUI checkpoints are conducted to identify impaired drivers and remove them from the street, as well as to educate the public on the dangers of driving while impaired In an effort to reduce the number of people killed or injured in alcohol-involved collisions, according to the LBPD.
All too often, members of the community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers, said LBPD spokesman Rico Fernandez.
“The purpose of the DUI and driver license checkpoint is to attempt to reduce those tragedies, as well as to ensure drivers have a valid driver license.” he said, adding that by publicizing these enforcement and educational efforts, the the LBPD believes it can be deterred from drinking and driving.
Traffic volume and weather permitting, all vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will be arrested.
Fernandez said the department’s objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol or drugs: Drunk Driving + Over the Limit = Under Arrest. (This slogan is actually a nationwide anti-drunk driving campaign.)
The public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected drunk driver, Fernandez said.
Police department funds are not being used to pay for the operation, which is being funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Additional information can be obtained by calling Sgt. Ernie Kohagura at 562-570-5737.