The city of Tustin will conduct a sobriety checkpoint in an undisclosed location on May 9, 2014 from 8 pm to 3 am. According to the press release, specially trained officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and drug impairment while also checking for proper licensing of motorists. According to a MADD information sheet on the operation of checkpoints, stops are performed in a set pattern designed to eliminate racial profiling and speeding the process.

The primary goal of a DUI checkpoint is not to arrest drunk drivers, but to deter impaired driving. According to MADD, research shows that money invested in conducting checkppoints results in massive savings to communities from alcohol related crashes.

The Tustin PD calls drunk driving a crime and we agree. Last year, Lat year, over 700 people in California died due to impaired driving. Thousands more were injured. Add to that the cost of to a family when a member is arrested for drunk driving. Typical costs for a first time offender can exceed $10,000 when including higher insurance and related “hidden” costs. It can also affect one’s reputation and job.

And, don’t think you can avoid the DUI patrols by leaving town. The Orange County Sheriffs Department will be conducting saturation patrols in South County this weekend as well. Citing a rise in DUI related deaths, OCSD says there were 57 DUI related deaths in their areas of operation in 2012. Saturation patrols will commence at 7 pm Friday, April 25 to 3 am Saturday, April 26.

Funding for these programs are from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If you see a drunk driver, call 9-1-1 (but do it from a handsfree phone if you are driving).