Long Beach Police arrested two drivers on suspicion of driving under the influence and issued 14 citations at a DUI and Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, Dec. 22 at Pacific Coast Highway and Channel Drive from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., authorities said.
Out of 1,390 vehicles that passed through the checkpoint, 380 were screened, police said. Police also cited two drivers for driving without a license or with a suspended or revoked license, according to a press release.
DUI checkpoints are held to “promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road,” police said. Checkpoint locations are based on reported incidents of crashes related to impaired driving.
“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Lieutenant Jose Flores said in a statement. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improves traffic safety.”
In a press release, police also reminded that prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs can affect driving, and while use of marijuana is legal, driving under its influence is not.
Drivers charged with a first-time DUI also face an average of $13,500 in penalties on top of a suspended license, authorities added.
The California Office of Traffic Safety provided funding for this checkpoint with a grant through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.