Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies with the Traffic Unit conducted a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint Friday from 6 p.m.  to 2 a.m. in Canyon Country as part of the city of Santa Clarita’s commitment to traffic safety.

Deputies screened 1,092 vehicles at the checkpoint at Whites Canyon Road and Delight Street.

Three unlicensed and/or suspended/revoked drivers were sent to court. Three drivers were cited and sent to court for various vehicle code violations.

“Over the course of the past five years, DUI collisions have claimed 11 lives and resulted in 255 injury crashes harming 363 of our friends and neighbors,” said Sgt.  Rich Cohen. “If everyone planned ahead for a sober non-drinking designated drivers, these numbers could be lowered to zero.”

This checkpoint was one of many that have been, or will be conducted, throughout the year in Santa Clarita.

The location of Friday’s checkpoint was on Whites Canyon Road at Delight Street in Newhall.

DUI Checkpoints along with regularly scheduled high visibility DUI enforcement serves as a proven deterrent, with the goal of removing alcohol and drugged impaired drivers and heightening awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence.

“Over the course of the past five years, DUI collisions have claimed 11 lives and resulted in 255 injury crashes harming 363 of our friends and neighbors,” Cohen said. “If everyone planned ahead for a sober non-drinking designated drivers these numbers could be lowered to zero.”

Those arrested and convicted for DUI can expect jail time, vehicle storage or impound fees, license suspension, fines, fees, DUI classes, insurance rates will increase and other expenses that can push the cost of an arrest to over $10,000.

Please keep our streets and highways safer every day of the week: Report Drunk Drivers Call 911.

Funding for this and other DUI operations are from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The last checkpoint deputies held was in Newhall in the first week in April, and it led to three arrests.