Nearly 290 vehicles were screened by Costa Mesa Police Department officers who conducted a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015 along northbound Harbor Boulevard at Flower Street between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. with 10 arrests made for suspicion of DUI or driving without a license or on a suspended license.

The checkpoint was jointly operated by both Costa Mesa Police Officers and the California Highway Patrol. Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and providing the greatest safety for officers and the public.

DUI/Driver’s License checkpoints lower DUI deaths and injuries. A major component of these checkpoints is the deterrent effect they have on those who might drive drunk or drug impaired, which brings about more awareness and encourages everyone to use sober designated drivers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), checkpoints have provided the most effective documented results of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, while also yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent. This checkpoint resulted in the following:

 3,252 Vehicles through the checkpoint
 289 Vehicles screened
 18 DUI investigations administered
 4 DUI-Alcohol suspects arrested
 6 Drivers cited/arrested for operating a vehicle unlicensed or on with a suspended license
This checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.