2nd DUI Checkpoint Planned In Palm Desert Over 8 Days

PALM DESERT, CA — Another DUI checkpoint is scheduled this weekend in the city of Palm Desert, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department confirmed.

Deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station will conduct the operation from 6 p.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Saturday. The exact spot was not disclosed but the sheriff's department said DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes.

The operation follows one conducted in the city last weekend. Deputies held the checkpoint at Fred Waring Drive and Portola Avenue from 6 p.m. Friday, March 31, to 2 a.m. Saturday, April 1. Two people were arrested for allegedly driving under the influence and 14 motorists were cited for other violations, according to the sheriff's department.

Most people are aware that driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is illegal, but some prescription medications can also interfere with driving ability and lead to a DUI. Drivers charged with a first-time DUI conviction face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license, according to the sheriff's department.

Funding for these checkpoints is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to the sheriff's department.