Checkpoints Planned This Weekend

Holiday revelers and motorists can expect local law enforcement to crack down on those driving under the influence or without a valid driver's license this weekend.

California Highway Patrol Temecula area plans a checkpoint Friday at an undisclosed location in Southwest Riverside County, and the Murrieta Police Department plans one Saturday.

According to CHP Spokesperson Nathan Baer, Friday's checkpoint is part of a "continued effort to apprehend the impaired driver before they injure themselves or other innocent motorists."

CHP sobriety checkpoints are conducted in accordance with the guidelines for checkpoint operations outlined in the California Supreme Court decision, Ingersoll vs. Palmer, Baer said in a news release.

Motorists approaching the checkpoint should expect to see informational signs advising them that the checkpoint is ahead, Baer said.

"Traffic volume permitting, all vehicles will be checked."

Then from 7 p.m. Saturday to 3 a.m. Sunday, the will conduct a checkpoint somewhere in the city.

"Checkpoints placed on roads with identified DUI problems tend to help reduce the number of drinking drivers on the road, even though arrest totals do not rise dramatically," said Murrieta police Cpl. Jay Froboese, in a news release.

"A major value of checkpoints is their psychological influences, based upon studies conducted by the California Highway Patrol," Froboese said.

The Murrieta checkpoint is completely funded by the State of California through the Office of Traffic Safety and the Riverside County Avoid the 30 Program, according to Froboese.