KSEQ in Palm Springs reports that a DUI checkpoint conducted by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in Rancho Mirage on Friday yielded 22 arrests.
A spokesperson for the law enforcement agency said that 581 vehicles were screened at the checkpoint held at Highway 111 and Library Way from 7:00 p.m. to 3:0 a.m.
Two people were arrested on suspicion of DUI. Other arrests include one person arrested for an outstanding felony warrant for vehicle theft, and 19 were arrested for driving on a revoked or expired driver’s license.
Sheriff’s deputies were on the lookout for motorists who were driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The Riverside Sheriff’s Department reminds California drivers to consider their safety and others they share the road with.
Authorities stress that impaired driving doesn’t just involve alcohol or illicit drugs. Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can also cause a driver to be impaired. Drivers are encouraged to follow the directions and heed warnings about driving or operating heavy machinery while on these medications. While recreational marijuana is legal in California, driving while under its influence is considered illegal.
DUI checkpoints are selected based on those locations where accidents or DUI arrests have occurred in the past. The checkpoints aim not to make arrests but to promote public safety within the community and discourage motorists from driving while impaired.
Funding for checkpoints is made through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
