Cinco de Mayo is known for its festivities, and this year it also will be a reminder to avoid driving while under the influence as the Riverside County Sheriff's Department plans to conduct a checkpoint in the city of Coachella.
The Sheriff's Department has not disclosed the exact location of this DUI checkpoint, but it has revealed the time, which is 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., according to a recent press release.
Sheriff's Department Deputy Yadira Perez stressed how critical it is to crack down on the number of impaired drivers on the road in order to save lives and prevent injury.
“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk. Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improves traffic safety," Perez said, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.
The Coachella location that has been chosen for this enforcement event is based on data revealing how many accidents caused by DUI have occurred there.
Many people think of DUI as strictly an offense resulting from too much alcohol consumption, but the Sheriff's Department said that it also can be related to prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs if they impair driving ability. Regardless of the fact that medical and recreational marijuana are both legal in California, driving under the influence of marijuana remains illegal. For that reason, officers will be looking for those impaired by any of these drugs, not just alcohol use.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Department also reminds drivers that the penalties are stiff for violations, including not only a suspended license but an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties for first-time offenders.
Riverside County received funding for the DUI checkpoint program through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
On Cinco de Mayo and throughout the year, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department is urging residents to put safety first by not driving when you've had too much to drink or are under the influence of any other drug that impairs your ability to drive.