The Rancho Cordova Police Department is gearing up to crack down on impaired drivers with a DUI and Driver's License Checkpoint scheduled for Friday, continuing into the early hours of Saturday. The checkpoint, funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will operate from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. at a location that remains undisclosed for strategic reasons.
In an effort to ensure public safety and deter driving under the influence, the Rancho Cordova PD will be scrutinizing drivers for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. According to a social media post from the department, the locations of these checkpoints are based on data related to incidents of impaired driving crashes. RCPD's message is clear: The primary aim of such operations is to promote safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off roads.
The RCPD also reminds the public that impairment behind the wheel isn't limited to just alcohol. Many prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may impair a driver's ability to operate a vehicle safely. Moreover, despite the legality of medicinal and recreational marijuana in California, driving under the influence of marijuana remains illicit.
For those considering the risks of drinking and driving, the department is clear about the potential consequences: "Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license," the department's post read.
