DUI Checkpoint Planned In Santa Rosa

SANTA ROSA, CA — The Santa Rosa Police Department announced it is holding a DUI checkpoint Friday, March 10.

The checkpoint is scheduled from 6 p.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Saturday at an undisclosed location within the city.

DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes, SRPD Sgt. Josh Medeiros said in a news release. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road, he said.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license, the police department said.

Santa Rosa police said impaired driving is not just from alcohol; some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. Further, while medicinal and recreational marijuana is legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal, police said.

Funding for the checkpoint is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.