Murrieta To Conduct DUI Checkpoint In August

MURRIETA, CA — Police will conduct a checkpoint to catch drivers intoxicated or under the influence of drugs in Murrieta on Aug. 8, officials announced this week.

The Murrieta Police Department said the patrol period will take place from 7 p.m. to midnight at an undisclosed location, which is determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes.

"The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints are to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road," the department wrote on Instagram Thursday. "Prevention measures like this reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads and significantly improve traffic safety."

Police warn that it isn't just alcohol that can impair driving. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. And while recreational marijuana is legal, driving under the influence of it is not.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI can face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties and have their license suspended.

Funding for this checkpoint comes from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.