DUI Checkpoint Planned This Weekend In Palm Desert

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

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."

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 the checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to the sheriff's department.