Modesto Police Department to conduct DUI checkpoint Friday night
Modesto police will conduct a DUI checkpoint Friday night at an undisclosed location, authorities said.
The checkpoint is scheduled from 8 p.m. April 24 to 3 a.m. April 25, according to the Modesto Police Department.
Officials said checkpoint locations are selected based on data showing areas with a history of impaired driving-related crashes. The goal is to improve public safety by removing suspected impaired drivers from the road.
“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Traffic Safety Unit DUI Officer Elias McKnight said in a statement. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.”
Police reminded drivers that impairment is not limited to alcohol. Prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs can also affect a person’s ability to drive. While marijuana is legal for medicinal and recreational use in California, driving under the influence of marijuana remains illegal.
A first-time DUI conviction can cost an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, in addition to a suspended driver’s license, according to police.
Funding for the checkpoint program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
