Press Releases

Update:

On Wednesday, March 17, 2021, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department-Thermal Station conducted a Driving Under the Influence (DUI)/Driver License checkpoint in La Quinta. The checkpoint was conducted on Avenue 52, west of Jefferson Street between the hours of 5 pm and 1:00 am. 515 vehicles were screened, which resulted in four drivers being arrested for DUI and four drivers being arrested for driving without a license. Four additional motorists were arrested for warrants and/or drug possession. Funding for this checkpoint was provided to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department-La Quinta by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Details:

La Quinta, Calif. – Riverside County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) / Driver License Checkpoint on March 17, 2021, at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

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

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department 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.

In 2018, over 1,300 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads. In the last two years, deputies in La Quinta investigated 59 DUI collisions which have claimed 2 lives and resulted in another 21 injuries.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department 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 are 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.

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department-La Quinta by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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