DUI checkpoint planned in Sacramento region. Here’s when and where
Law enforcement will be on the lookout for drunk drivers in the Sacramento region.
Officers with the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office will conduct a sobriety checkpoint at a location within Yuba City limits, the agency said in a Tuesday, Oct. 14, news release.
“The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to enhance public safety by removing suspected impaired drivers from the roadway,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Here’s what to know:
When is DUI checkpoint in Sutter County? Where?
The Sutter County Sheriff’s Office will hold its sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, to 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18.
The agency didn’t share the specific location of the checkpoint, but said it was chosen based on “data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes.”
The DUI checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Highway Patrol’s Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program, which supports education, prevention and enforcement efforts to reduce impaired driving and improve roadway safety throughout California.
What is considered impaired driving in California?
Impaired driving isn’t limited to alcohol use, according to the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office.
“Certain prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs, and cannabis can impair driving ability and judgment,” the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office said in the release. “Although medicinal and recreational marijuana use is legal in California, driving under the influence of cannabis 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, drivers are 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 October 17, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
