The Long Beach Police Department says it will conduct a DUI checkpoint Friday, Dec. 22 to discourage people from driving under the influence and take suspected impaired drivers off the road.
The exact location for the checkpoint was not released, but the LBPD said officers would set up from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. somewhere in the city’s East Division area, which covers most of the city east of Cherry Avenue. Checkpoint locations are chosen based on data that shows where DUI crashes are more likely to occur, authorities said.
At the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs including prescription medication and marijuana, police said.
Drivers charged with operating a vehicle while impaired face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.
Seal Beach Police will also be conducting their own DUI checkpoint somewhere within its city limits, authorities announced last week.
Funding for the checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.