Berkeley PD To Hold Weekend DUI Checkpoint

BERKELEY, CA — The Berkeley Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoint later this week.

The checkpoint will be held from 7 p.m. Friday through to 3 a.m. Saturday at the San Pablo Avenue and Cedar Street intersection, police said in a statement.

DUI checkpoint locations are selected based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes, police said.

The stated goal of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road, according to police.

“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” officer Cole said in a statement.

“Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improves traffic safety.”

The BPD statement notes that some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving.

“While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal,” the statement said.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license, police said.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.