Patch.com reports that the Cathedral City Police Department conducted a DUI checkpoint at the intersection of Ramon and Roundup Roads on Friday in an effort to remove intoxicated drivers from the road.
According to a statement issued by the law enforcement agency on Monday, the checkpoint was held on Friday, September 22, from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 23.
A total of 1,171 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, and 275 vehicles were screened. Three people were arrested on the charge of DUI, while six other motorists were cited for driving without a valid driver’s license.
“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Cathedral City Police Chief George Crum told reporters. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers significantly improves traffic safety.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), every day 37 people in the United States die in crashes involving at least one intoxicated driver. That means that one person dies needlessly every 39 minutes. Each year, there are over 100,000 motorists arrested on DUI charges in the state of California.
The Cathedral City Police Department reminds motorists that a DUI charge can result not only if a motorist is under the influence of alcohol but also marijuana, some prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications that can cause impairment.
Even a first-time DUI conviction will cost drivers an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties and the suspension of their driver’s license for one year.
