The San Rafael Police Department has put the word out that it will be running a DUI checkpoint from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on September 26. The exact location in the downtown area is being kept under wraps for now, but it's been chosen based on crash data that points to where the drink-driving problem is at its worst.
These checkpoints aren't just to keep the streets looking tidy, but they are also a public safety measure. As Traffic Sergeant Michael Mathis puts it via the San Rafael Police Department's social media post, "Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk."
SRPD TO HOLD DUI CHECKPOINT ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2025:
— San Rafael Police Department (@SanRafaelPolice) September 1, 2025
On 9/26/2025, the San Rafael Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI/ DL) checkpoint from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the downtown area.
DUI checkpoint locations are… pic.twitter.com/W97N43xsQj
The cost is not just the moral weight of endangering lives but a hefty financial one, too. According to the San Rafael Police Department, being caught for a first-time DUI can tap your pocket for an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, and your license is suspended.
The initiative was funded from a California Office of Traffic Safety grant channeled through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
