Holiday Weekend DUI Checkpoint Scheduled In Lake Elsinore

There have been several DUI checkpoints scheduled in and around Lake Elsinore over the last few weeks, and another is coming.

The Lake Elsinore Police Department has joined nearly 10,000 other law enforcement agencies nationwide in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving known

The next DUI/Driver's License Checkpoint is scheduled tonight at an undisclosed location within the Lake Elsinore city limit.

In 2009 alone, 10,839 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The age group with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes was the 21-to-24 age group, the NHTSA reported.

“All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life. Because we're committed to ending the carnage, we're intensifying enforcement during the crackdown. Since twice as many alcohol-impaired accidents occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night, we will be especially vigilant during these high-risk times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” said Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Marc Cloutier in a news release.

Riverside County Avoid the 30 Task Force will also deploy additional DUI Driver's License Checkpoints, Multi Agency DUI Task Force operations and local Roving DUI patrols over the Labor Day weekend.

"Our message is simple and unwavering: If we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions. Even if you beat the odds and manage to walk away from an impaired-driving crash alive, the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can still destroy your life,” the sergeant wrote.

“Violators will face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. Their insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation,” the sergeant added.