The California Highway Patrol Newhall Area Office will conduct a sobriety checkpoint in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County on Friday night, September 15.

The checkpoint will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m. and conclude at approximately 2:30 a.m. Saturday, September 16.

The location will be announced just prior to the operation.

Motorists approaching the checkpoint will see informational signs advising them of a sobriety checkpoint ahead. Once diverted into the lane, motorists will be detained only momentarily while an officer explains the purpose of the checkpoint.

The goal of the DUI checkpoint is to create awareness among the motoring public, to deter people from driving under the influence, and to keep the streets safe for all.

Although checkpoints tend to reduce the number of drinking drivers on the road, the CHP will apprehend DUI drivers who fail to heed our warnings. Even though arrest totals do not rise dramatically, the psychological influence a checkpoint has on the motoring public is invaluable.

Sobriety checkpoints are conducted in accordance to the guidelines for checkpoint operations outlined in the Supreme Court decision Ingersol vs. Palmer.

Traffic volume permitting, all vehicles will be checked. If traffic volume becomes too heavy, vehicles to be checked will be selected by a pre-set standard, such as every 5th or 10th vehicle, in order to assure objectivity.

For further information, contact California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Josh Greengard at 661-294-5540 or jgreengard@chp.ca.gov.