Press Releases

Update:

The December 4, 2020 Driving Under the Influence (DUI) checkpoint yield the following:

411 Vehicles screened

• 38 Vehicles screened in secondary
• 4 Field Sobriety tests conducted
• 2 DUI Arrests
• 9 Drivers cited/arrested for operating a vehicle unlicensed or while suspended/revoked
• 2 Vehicles towed
• 1 citation issued for a vehicle code violation
• 2 Misdemeanor Arrest Warrant served

DUI Checkpoints like this one are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests. Deputies were looking for signs of alcohol and / or drug impairment, along with deputies checking drivers for proper licensing.

In 2017, 1,120 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department/Temecula Sheriff’s Station reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department/Temecula Sheriff’s Station offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun that doesn’t involve a DUI:

• Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.
• See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
• Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
• Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who is drinking and how they are getting home.

Getting home safely is cheap, but getting a DUI is not! Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension, and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.

Details:

City of Temecula, Calif. – The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department/Southwest Station will hold a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, December 4, from 7:00 pm to 1:00 am at an undisclosed location within city limits.

Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.

During the checkpoint, deputies will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The safety of our community is and always will be our mission. Driving under the influence is still dangerous and puts a further strain on critical resources.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving.

Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about “driving” or “operating heavy machinery,” which includes driving a vehicle. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

If you plan on drinking or taking medications that may impact your ability to drive safely, plan on staying at home.

Drivers charged with DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.