Police, CHP will be on lookout for drunk drivers in SLO County. Here’s when
The Atascadero Police Department and California Highway Patrol will be on the lookout for drunk drivers — as well as those driving with expired licenses.
Law enforcement officers will set up a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint at a location within San Luis Obispo County limits, the CHP’s Templeton area office said in a news release.
The sobriety checkpoint is aimed at keeping drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs off the road.
Funding for the DUI checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
When is DUI checkpoint?
The DUI and driver’s license checkpoint will be held from 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, to 1 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, the CHP said.
Officers will use breath testing devices to measure the blood alcohol concentration levels of suspected drunk drivers, the release said.
What is considered impaired driving?
In addition to alcohol use, impaired driving includes the use of prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs that could interfere with driving.
Do I have to comply with police at DUI checkpoint?
Under California law, all drivers must stop and submit to a sobriety checkpoint inspection when law enforcement requires it.
However, a driver is not legally obligated to submit to field sobriety tests, pre-arrest breath tests or cheek swabs 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 a driver has not yet been stopped by law enforcement, there are ways they can avoid the checkpoint.
There is no state or federal law that prohibits someone from turning around or finding another route to avoid a DUI checkpoint, as long as it’s 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.
