Another DUI and drivers license checkpoint will be conducted this Friday and Saturday in Citrus Heights, police said in a news release issued this week.
The checkpoint will be held at “an undisclosed location” in the city between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., beginning Friday night, Sept. 22, and continuing through early Saturday morning.
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Police said the operation will include officers briefly stopping vehicles to look for signs of alcohol and drug impairment, as well as checking drivers for proper licensing. Specially trained officers will also be on scene to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving, which can include many prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, according to the news release.
A prior checkpoint held on Aug. 25 at Sunrise Boulevard and Oak Avenue stopped a total of 743 vehicles and resulted in one misdemeanor DUI arrest, police reported. Four vehicles were also impounded and 14 citations were issued for a variety of vehicle code violations, including driving without a license or with a suspended license.
As previously reported on The Sentinel, the Citrus Heights Police Department says it announces DUI operations in advance as a public awareness tool to help deter drivers from getting behind the wheel drunk in the first place. The department also regularly deploys “DUI Saturation Patrols,” which specifically search for, and pull over, drivers showing signs of intoxication.
Funding for CHPD’s checkpoints comes from a California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) grant, through the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration. CHPD was awarded a $145,000 OTS grant last year to help fund a year-long program of safety-related efforts, with a focus on DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols.
