What:       The Irvine Police Department will be conducting a sobriety/driver’s license checkpoint.

Where:    The location will be released at 3:00 p.m. on December 15, 2006.

When:      During the evening hours of Friday, December 15, 2006. 

Why:        The purpose of the checkpoint is to deter the impaired driver by publicity surrounding the event and by the highly visible presence of sworn officers at the location of the checkpoint.  Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) estimates that communities that consistently use sobriety checkpoints experience as much as 8 times the reduction in DUI incidence as communities that use roving patrols alone.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) studies show that nearly 97 percent of Americans view drinking and driving by others as a threat to their families and themselves. 

                  The checkpoint will be clearly marked and vehicles will be selected to be checked on a pre-set basis to ensure objectivity.  Motorists will be greeted and given an informational brochure on impaired driving.  Driver’s licenses will be checked, and trained officers will direct suspected impaired drivers to a secondary check area for further evaluation.  Most motorists will experience little delay, if any at all.

                  Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

                  Members of the media are welcome to view the checkpoint.