A DUI checkpoint will be held in San Marcos beginning Saturday evening and lasting until early Sunday.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office did not disclose the exact location, but said it would be somewhere in the city of San Marcos from 6 p.m. Saturday until 2 a.m. Sunday.
DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes, according to Sgt. Jeremy Collis.
“The Sheriff’s Office reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving,” Collis said. “While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.”
Motorists were advised to always use a designated sober driver, such as a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation to get home.
Walking while impaired is also dangerous, so pedestrians who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol were urged to have someone sober walk them home or stay with them until a sober driver is available for pick-up.
Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license, according to officials.
Funding for the program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
— City News Service
