Nine Drivers Cited During Murrieta Police Checkpoint

A woman was cited for allegedly driving without her IID—a court-ordered device intended to prevent DUI offenders from drinking and driving—Friday when Murrieta police held a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint.

The citation was one of nine issued as a result of the checkpoint that was conducted between 8:30 p.m. and 2:25 a.m. on Clinton Keith Road at Murrieta Oaks Road, according to Murrieta police Sgt. Jim Gruwell.

A total of 1,100 vehicles drove through the checkpoint. Of those, 956 were screened and 38 of the drivers were directed into a secondary area for further investigation, the sergeant stated in news release.

Two people were cited for driving on a suspended license, six for driving without a valid license and one for driving her motor vehicle without her court-ordered Ignition Interlock Device (IID).

“An IID is a device, like a breathalyzer, that is designed to prevent a vehicle’s engine from starting if a certain level of alcohol is detected in the breath sample,” Gruwell stated. “In certain cases, a judge can order a suspect convicted of DUI to only operate vehicles that have an IID.”

While no arrests were made during Friday’s checkpoint, Gruwell pointed out that a major component of the operations is the deterrent effect they have on those who might drive drunk or drugged impaired.

The checkpoint—held in a location that provided the most safety for officers and the public—was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Murrieta PD will be conducting future DUI/drivers license checkpoints and/or DUI saturation patrols in our ongoing commitment to lowering deaths and injuries upon our streets and highways,” Gruwell stated.