The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has announced it will conduct a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint in Rancho Santa Margarita on Friday, January 30, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. The specific location of the checkpoint has not been disclosed.
According to the department, locations for DUI checkpoints are selected based on collision statistics and the frequency of DUI arrests. Deputies will check drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment and ensure proper licensing.
The department issued a reminder that impairment is not limited to alcohol consumption. “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” The statement continues: “If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.”
To promote safety during the event, the Sheriff’s Department recommends several precautions:
“Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.
See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who are drinking and how they are getting home.”
The department also warns that being charged with DUI carries significant financial consequences: “Getting home safely is cheap, but getting a DUI is not. Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses, not to mention possible jail time.”
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department operates as one of California’s larger law enforcement agencies with nearly 4,000 staff members serving communities across various locations including Rancho Santa Margarita. It provides public safety services such as patrols and investigations while advancing community safety through programs like anonymous tip lines (official website). The agency upholds standards of integrity and respect in its efforts throughout Orange County.
