3 Arrested At Lake Elsinore New Year's Eve Checkpoint

LAKE ELSINORE, CA -- Three people were arrested or cited on New Year's Eve at a Lake Elsinore checkpoint. Although the checkpoint at Mission Trail and Malaga was aimed at drunk drivers, the three people were arrested or cited for operating a vehicle unlicensed or while suspended or revoked.

Nearly 250 cars drove through the checkpoint between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Dec. 31. There weren't any drivers who were arrested for drunken driving, police said.

Studies of California drivers have shown that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol, police said.

Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses that can exceed $10,000, police said.

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