Police To Conduct DUI Checkpoint Thursday In San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA — Police will conduct a DUI checkpoint Thursday night in San Diego.

The checkpoint is scheduled from 10 p.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday at an undisclosed location in the city, according to the San Diego Police Department. During the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

• Also see: Multiple DUI Checkpoints Planned Across San Diego County

Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests, according to the department. The primary purpose of checkpoints is to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.

The department announced it will have additional officers on patrol from Thursday through New Year's Day looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The high-visibility enforcement effort is part of a national campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, with the goal of stopping suspected impaired drivers who put others at risk.

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

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