Police to be on lookout for drunk drivers in this Sacramento County city. Here’s when

Police will be on the lookout for drunken drivers in a Sacramento suburb this weekend.

The Elk Grove Police Department will set up a sobriety checkpoint at an undisclosed location within city limits in south Sacramento County to observe the roads, removing drivers who are impaired or not licensed to drive, the agency said in a news release.

Police said educational materials covering the dangers of driving under the influence will also be distributed to motorists.

Funding for the sobriety checkpoint is provided through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, authorities said.

Here is what to know about the upcoming sobriety checkpoint and your rights:

When is the DUI checkpoint in south Sacramento County?

The Elk Grove Police Department will conduct its impaired-driving checkpoint from 7 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday, according to a release.

“The public is encouraged to call the Elk Grove Police Department at (916) 714-5111 or 911 if they observe impaired drivers on the roadways,” police said in a news release.

What is considered impaired driving?

In addition to drunk driving, impaired driving includes being under the influence of cannabis, prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs.

Can I avoid DUI checkpoints?

If a driver hasn’t been stopped by law enforcement yet or even approached the checkpoint, they could legally turn around or find another route—as long as it is safe to do so, according to the Shouse California Law Group.

In other words, if you see a checkpoint and there’s a place to turn around, you have the right to do so.

However, once you approach the checkpoint, you can no longer turn around.

California Vehicle Code 2814.2 states all drivers must stop and submit to a sobriety checkpoint inspection when law enforcement requires it.

Drivers, however, are not legally obligated to submit to field sobriety tests, pre-arrest breath tests, or cheek swabs at a DUI checkpoint, the Shouse California Law Group said on its website.

What is the penalty for DUI?

The California Department of Motor Vehicles reserve the right to revoke or suspend your driver’s license for driving under the influence.

First-time DUI offenders face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties.

Under a statewide program that started in 2019, individuals have to complete a DUI program and may have a court-ordered ignition interlock device installed for up to six months upon conviction, the DMV website said.