Santa Rosa Police will be out in force tonight, setting up a driving under the influence checkpoint at an undisclosed location in the city.
The operation kicks off at 6:00 p.m. and will run through 2:00 tomorrow morning, with locations chosen based on past crash data. Officers are reminding the public that “impaired” doesn’t just mean alcohol—driving under the influence of prescription meds, over-the-counter drugs, or marijuana is also completely illegal.
If public safety isn’t enough motivation to designate a driver, the financial hit might be, as a first-time DUI conviction carries an average price tag of over thirteen thousand dollars in fines and penalties, plus a suspended license.
Tonight’s enforcement program is fully funded by a safety grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.