News releaseĀ
The California Highway Patrol, Newhall Area Office will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint Friday in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. The checkpoint will begin at approximately 8 p.m. and conclude at approximately 2 a.m. Saturday.
The location will be announced just prior to the operation. Motorists approaching the checkpoint will see informational signs advising them of a sobriety checkpoint ahead. Once diverted into the lane, motorists will be detained only momentarily while an officer explains the purpose of the checkpoint.
The goal of the DUI checkpoint is to create awareness among the motoring public, to deter people from driving under the influence, and to keep the streets safe for all. Although checkpoints tend to reduce the number of drinking drivers on the road, the CHP will apprehend DUI drivers who fail to heed warnings.
Even though arrest totals do not rise dramatically, the psychological influence a checkpoint has on the motoring public is invaluable, the CHP said in a news release.
Sobriety checkpoints are conducted in accordance to the guidelines for checkpoint operations outlined in the Supreme Court decision, Ingersol vs. Palmer. Traffic volume permitting, all vehicles will be checked. If traffic volume becomes too heavy, vehicles to be checked will be selected by a pre-set standard, such as every fifth or 10th vehicle, in order to assure objectivity.
For additional information, contact CHP Public Information Officer Josh Greengard at 661-600-1600 or by email at [email protected].