Downey Police Department to conduct DUI checkpoint on Friday

DOWNEY – The Downey Police Department will conduct a DUI checkpoint on Friday, March 21, from 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. at an undisclosed location, officials announced.

Checkpoint locations are chosen based on data identifying areas with a high frequency of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary objective is to enhance public safety by removing suspected impaired drivers from the roads.

“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Downey Police Chief Scott Loughner said in a statement. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.”

The department emphasized that impairment is not limited to alcohol. Certain prescription and over-the-counter medications can affect driving ability, and while both medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal in California, driving under the influence remains illegal.

A first-time DUI conviction can result in an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, along with a suspended driver’s license.

The DUI checkpoint is funded through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.