DUI checkpoint planned in this SLO County city. Here’s when and where
Police will be on the lookout for drunk drivers in northern San Luis Obispo County over the weekend.
Law enforcement officers will set up a DUI checkpoint within Paso Robles city limits, the Paso Robles Police Department said in a news release.
The sobriety checkpoint aimed at keeping drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs off the road.
“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Paso Robles Police Deputy Chief Caleb Davis said in the release. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.”
Here’s what to know:
When is DUI checkpoint in Paso Robles? Where?
The Paso Robles Police Department will conduct the DUI checkpoint from 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, to 2 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, according to the release.
Police didn’t share the exact location of the sobriety checkpoint but said it was based on data related to “crashes involving impaired drivers.”
Funding for the checkpoint comes from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, police said.
What is considered impaired driving in California?
Impaired driving isn’t limited to alcohol use, according to Paso Robles police.
“Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving,” the Paso Robles Police Department said in the release. “While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.”
Do I have to submit to a sobriety test at a DUI checkpoint?
California law requires all drivers to stop and submit to a sobriety checkpoint inspection when law enforcement requires it.
However, a driver is not legally obligated to submit to a field sobriety test, pre-arrest test or cheek swab at a DUI checkpoint, according to the Law Offices of Grech and Parker in Riverside.
Field sobriety tests are subjective and may not accurately measure sobriety, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.
“A police officer’s opinion can be influenced, and it’s possible that the tests were not conducted exactly according to protocol,” said Cron, Israels & Stark Attorneys at Law, which has offices in Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
Can I avoid a drunk driving checkpoint?
If you haven’t already been stopped by law enforcement, there are ways you can legally avoid a DUI checkpoint.
There is no state or federal law that prohibits someone from turning around or finding another route — as long as it is safe to do so, according to Shouse California Law Group.
What are the penalties for a DUI?
If you are stopped by law enforcement for driving under the influence of intoxicants, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has the authority to revoke or suspend your driving privilege.
Drivers charged with a first-time DUI can also face an average of $13,500 in fines, fees and more.
