At a recent DUI/CDL checkpoint in Long Beach, one driver found themselves under arrest for driving under the influence, while another five were handed citations for operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license or with a suspended one. This enforcement action, which saw 1,290 vehicles passing through and 517 screened, was part of a broader effort to curb impaired driving, a blight that endangers all who share the roads.
The checkpoint was set up at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and 2nd Street, from the early evening hours of 6:00 p.m. through to the small hours at 2:00 a.m., on Jan. 23, according to the Long Beach Police Department. The placement of these checkpoints is strategic, reflecting the local data that indicates where impaired driving-related crashes are more likely to occur.
These DUI/CDL operations serve multiple purposes, from the immediate—removing potentially dangerous drivers from the streets—to the educational, raising public awareness about the risks associated with driving under the influence. Furthermore, such checkpoints act as a deterrent, signaling to those who may drive impaired that law enforcement is actively on watch for such behavior…