DUI checkpoint planned in Mission Viejo this weekend

The Orange County Sheriff’s DUI Enforcement Team will hold a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint this weekend in Mission Viejo to stop and arrest alcohol and drug-impaired drivers as part of the department’s ongoing traffic safety campaign. 

The checkpoint is from 7 p.m. Friday, August 18 to 3 a.m. Saturday, August 19.

High-visibility enforcement using DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols reduces the number of people killed and injured in alcohol or drug-related crashes.  Research shows that crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized DUI operations are conducted routinely.

In recent years, California has seen a disturbing increase in drug-impaired driving crashes.  If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI.  Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs and can result in a DUI.

Drivers are encouraged to download the Designated Driver VIP, or “DDVIP,” free mobile app for Android or iPhone.  The app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver.  The app has social media tie-ins and a tab for folks to call Uber, Lyft or Curb.

Remember to report drunk drivers by calling 911.