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Recent Drunk Driving Checkpoints

Law Enforcement Are Still Conducting Checkpoints Across Orange County

Driving under the influence (DUI) is one of the most commonly charged offenses in Southern California. Recently, law enforcement officers have stepped up their efforts to catch drunk drivers in the act. Sobriety checkpoints are still legal in California, although they must follow certain requirements to be legal.

Sobriety checkpoint requirements include:

  • Reasonable location;
  • Neutrality when choosing which vehicles to stop;
  • Decision making must be at the supervisory level;
  • Limits on the discretion of field officers;
  • Maintaining adequate safety conditions including proper lighting and warning signs;
  • Specific time and duration.

If you are arrested at a DUI checkpoint, you should always consult with an experienced drunk driving lawyer who can help you understand your rights and fight the charges against you.

The law enforcement agency running the checkpoint must publicize the event. Recently the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) announced that they would be conducting a sobriety checkpoint at an undisclosed location in Laguna Hills. The checkpoint took place on May 21, 2021, at Alicia Parkway and Paseo De Valencia. 

While law enforcement agencies do not have to disclose the exact location of the checkpoint in the initial publication, they tend to be in places near bars, restaurants, or areas with a high frequency of drunk drivers.

To find out where sobriety checkpoints will be held, check local law enforcement press releases. The vast majority of checkpoints are held on Friday and Saturday nights. Law enforcement agencies tend to ramp up checkpoints during the summer months from Memorial Day through Labor Day and again from Thanksgiving Eve through New Year’s Day. 

State and federal grants are often given to help law enforcement agencies combat drunk driving and host more checkpoints or saturation patrols. Saturation patrols put more officers in a specific location and target impaired drivers, aggressive drivers, and speeders.