DUI Checkpoint Scheduled For Thursday In Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CA — Long Beach police will hold a DUI checkpoint Thursday, Aug. 21 to deter drunk and impaired drivers, the department announced Tuesday.

The checkpoint will be held from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. somewhere in the department's East Patrol Division, which covers the portion of Long Beach east of Cherry Avenue.

It's unclear exactly where the location will take place. Locations for these checkpoints are determined based on data collected by the Long Beach Police Department that reveals where in the city crashes involving drunk or impaired drivers are most common.

The last DUI checkpoint in the city's East Division was held at Pacific Coast Highway and Channel Drive back in June.

During that checkpoint, one person was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, police said. Five people were cited for driving without a license or driving with a suspended/revoked license, police said, while one person was cited for a traffic violation.

“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Commander Jeremy Boshnack said in a statement Wednesday. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.”

The department added that aside from drunk drivers, officers will be looking for anyone who may be operating their vehicle while under the influence of marijuana, prescription medication and over-the-counter drugs.

According to the LBPD, drivers convicted of operating a vehicle while under the influence may face thousands of dollars worth of fines and penalties, in addition to having their license suspended.

The funding for the LBPD to hold these checkpoints comes from a grant provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to authorities.