Sacramento Police plan DUI checkpoints. Here’s when and what to know
Sacramento officers will be on the lookout for drunk and impaired drivers in the city Friday night.
Officers with the Sacramento Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence checkpoint, the agency said in a Thursday, Dec. 11, news release.
“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Sergeant Anna Mahoney said in the release. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.”
Here’s what to know:
When is DUI checkpoint in Sacramento? Where?
The Sacramento Police Department will run a sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, within the city limits.
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 Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
What is considered impaired driving in California?
The Sacramento Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol.
“Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal,” the Sacramento Police Department said in the news release.
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 December 12, 2025 at 9:40 AM.
