DUI checkpoint planned in Sacramento County. Here’s when and where
The California Highway Patrol will be on the lookout for drunk drivers in the Sacramento region — as well as those without proper identification.
Officers with the CHP’s South Sacramento area office will conduct a sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint in an unincorporated area of Sacramento County, the agency said in a Wednesday, Sept. 24, news release.
The division’s jurisdiction, which spans more than 500 square miles, includes all of Sacramento south of the American River, including downtown, East Sacramento and Meadowview, as well as Elk Grove, Galt and the Delta.
“The goal of the CHP is to ensure the safe passage of every motorist through proactive enforcement and education,” the CHP said said in the release, “and sobriety/driver license checkpoints have proven to be an effective tool.”
Here’s what to know:
When is DUI checkpoint in Sacramento area? Where?
The CHP will hold its sobriety and driver license safety checkpoint on Friday, Sept. 26, although the agency didn’t specify in the release when it will start.
CHP officers at the checkpoint will provide “both enforcement and education, warning drivers of the dangers of drinking and driving,” the agency said in the release.
The CHP said the location of the checkpoint will be disclosed two hours before it starts.
Funding for the checkpoint came from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, police said.
What is considered impaired driving in California?
Impaired driving isn’t limited to alcohol use, according to the Sacramento Police Department.
“Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving,” Sacramento police said in a July 11 news release. “While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.”
Do I have to submit to a sobriety test at a DUI checkpoint?
California law requires all drivers to stop and submit to a sobriety checkpoint inspection when law enforcement requires it.
However, a driver is not legally obligated to submit to a field sobriety test, pre-arrest test or cheek swab at a DUI checkpoint, according to the Law Offices of Grech and Packer in Riverside.
Field sobriety tests are subjective and may not accurately measure sobriety, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.
“A police officer’s opinion can be influenced, and it’s possible that the tests were not conducted exactly according to protocol,” said Cron, Israels & Stark Attorneys at Law, which has offices in Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
Can I avoid a drunk driving checkpoint?
If you haven’t already been stopped by law enforcement, there are ways you can legally avoid a DUI checkpoint.
There is no state or federal law that prohibits someone from turning around or finding another route — as long as it is safe to do so, according to Shouse California Law Group.
What are the penalties for a DUI?
If you are stopped by law enforcement for driving under the influence of intoxicants, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has the authority to revoke or suspend your driving privilege.
Drivers charged with a first-time DUI can also face an average of $13,500 in fines, fees and more.
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 9:47 AM.
