Weekend DUI Checkpoint Planned for Long Beach

The Long Beach Police Department will conduct a DUI and drivers license checkpoint on Saturday between the hours of 7 p.m. and 3 a.m., the department announced Thursday.

According to police, the checkpoint will be set up in the department's North Division Area in north Long Beach but did not specify an exact location. 

"Based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests, DUI checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence," police said in a release. "Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and the public.

Officers at the checkpoint will look for signs of alcohol and drug impairment as well as check that drivers are properly licensed.

Those caught driving impaired could face possible jail time, drivers license suspension, insurance increases and other fines and fees that can exceed $10,000, authorities said.

"Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions have claimed 14 lives and resulted in 305 injury crashes harming 417 of our friends and neighbors," Long Beach police Sgt. Aaron Alu said.

Nationally, police said that in 2011, nearly 10,000 people were killed in car accidents involving at least one driver with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit of .08 percent.

Funding for Saturday's checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Those who spot a drunk driver are asked to call 911.