Sentinel staff report–
Another DUI and drivers license checkpoint will be conducted this weekend in Citrus Heights, police said in a news release and social media postings on Tuesday.
Authorities said the checkpoint will be held at “an undisclosed location” in the city between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., beginning Saturday night, Oct. 27, and continuing through the early hours of the following day.
Q&A: Why do police announce DUI checkpoints in advance?
Past checkpoint operations typically include officers briefly stopping vehicles to look for signs of alcohol and drug impairment, as well as checking drivers for valid licensing. Police also warn that drugs which may impair driving include many prescription drugs and even some over-the-counter medications.
A prior checkpoint held in August on Auburn Boulevard near Greenback Lane resulted in one DUI arrest. Police reported that during the checkpoint a total of 735 vehicles were stopped and 36 citations were issued for various offenses, including driving without a license or with a suspended license. Police also impounded five vehicles and administered eight sobriety field tests.
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 drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel 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. Last year, CHPD announced it had been awarded a $164,000 OTS grant to help fund a year-long program of safety-related efforts, with a focus on DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols.
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