A DUI checkpoint operation led to a pair of arrests and a handful of citations earlier this week. The checkpoint was conducted at Pacific Coast Highway and Channel Drive, from 6:00 p.m. to the wee hours of 2:00 a.m. The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) diligently screened hundreds of cars to crack down on impaired driving.
The tally from the night’s efforts included two individuals booked for DUI and 14 citations issued for various offenses, including driving without a license or with a suspended/revoked license. Out of the 1,390 vehicles that blazed through the checkpoint, 380 were called to a halt for inspection. This was part of a broader safety initiative, aimed to discourage driving under the influence of not just booze, but also drugs—legal or not—that can hinder one's ability to operate a vehicle safely.
According to the press release issued by the LBPD, Lt. Jose Flores emphasized the importance of such operations saying, “Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk." He went on to add that "Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.” The checkpoints are strategically placed based on historical data where impaired driving-related crashes are known to occur.
The financial burden for a first-time DUI offense is heavy, with fines and penalties averaging around $13,500, not to mention a suspended license. Public safety campaigns like these are bankrolled by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety, funneling through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with the express purpose of keeping high-risk drivers off the road.
