A DUI checkpoint comes to Mission Viejo Friday night; the location stays secret
The Orange County Sheriff's Department will run a DUI and driver's license checkpoint in Mission Viejo on Friday, Oct. 30, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. The department is not saying where.
The Sheriff's Department, which polices the city under contract as Mission Viejo Police Services, announced the checkpoint in a news release titled OCSD to hold DUI checkpoint in Mission Viejo. The release is dated Oct. 28, though the department's website lists it as posted Oct. 21.
What deputies will check
According to the release, checkpoint sites are chosen based on collision statistics and the frequency of DUI arrests. Deputies will look for signs of alcohol or drug impairment and will check that drivers are properly licensed.
The department also reminds drivers that impairment is not limited to alcohol. Prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or machinery warning on the label, can be enough for a DUI. Marijuana can impair as well, especially combined with alcohol or other drugs.
What the department asks of residents
- Use a designated sober driver, a ride-share, a cab or public transportation.
- Take the keys from someone who is clearly impaired and help arrange a sober ride home.
- Call 911 to report a drunk driver.
- If hosting a party, offer nonalcoholic drinks and keep track of who is drinking and how they are getting home.
The cost of a DUI
The department says a DUI arrest can cost upwards of $13,500, counting fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses, with possible jail time on top.
The checkpoint is paid for by a grant to the Sheriff's Department from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Sources: OCSD to hold DUI checkpoint in Mission Viejo.
Related coverage
Mission Viejo Post is free, and stays free. If this story was useful, chip in $5 toward the next one, or become a Supporter for $5 a month.