Three DUI arrests were made during a Driving Under the Influence and Driver’s License Checkpoint in Lake Elsinore on Aug. 28, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office Lake Elsinore Station conducted the checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Riverside Drive and Collier Avenue. Deputies screened 471 vehicles during the operation.
A total of 19 citations were issued, including seven for unlicensed drivers and one for a suspended license, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Five vehicles were towed.
The Sheriff’s Office said drivers charged with DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.
The checkpoint was funded through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Administration.
The Sheriff’s Office said checkpoint locations are selected based on the history of DUI crashes and arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving while impaired.
The Sheriff’s Office also reminded drivers that impairment can result from alcohol, marijuana and some prescription or over-the-counter medications. Drivers are advised to follow medication directions and read warning labels regarding driving or operating heavy machinery.
The Sheriff’s Office also noted that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal, even though medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal.
