Long Beach DUI Checkpoint Set For Friday Night

LONG BEACH, CA — Drivers in Long Beach could encounter a DUI checkpoint Friday night as police conduct an eight-hour enforcement operation in the city's East Division.

The Long Beach Police Department will hold a DUI and driver's license checkpoint from 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, until 2 a.m. Saturday, police announced Wednesday.

Police did not disclose the checkpoint's exact location, saying only that it will be somewhere within the East Division area. Checkpoint locations are selected based on data showing where impaired driving-related crashes have occurred.

"Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk," Lt. Jose Flores said in a written statement. "Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety."

The checkpoint is intended to remove impaired drivers from the road, raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving and deter people from driving while impaired or without a valid license.

LBPD also reminded drivers that impairment can involve more than alcohol. Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can interfere with a person's ability to drive safely, and although medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal in California, driving under the influence of marijuana is not.

A first-time DUI can result in an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties as well as a suspended driver's license, according to police.

The checkpoint is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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