The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s Traffic Unit will conduct a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint at an undisclosed location in the Santa Clarita Valley on Friday, April 27, from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday.

The goal of the checkpoint is to educate drivers about the hazards of drunk driving, and to enforce California D.U.I. laws.

The checkpoint is an ongoing attempt to safely remove drunk drivers from our roadways. The location of the checkpoint will be based on D.U.I. related activity in that area.

Deputies will contact drivers passing through the checkpoint, looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, court probation and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.

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“Over the course of the past year, DUI collisions have claimed two lives and resulted in 139 wrecks injuring 72 of our friends and neighbors in Santa Clarita,” Sergeant Richard Cohen said.

A major component of these checkpoints is the deterrent effect it has on those who might drive drunk or drugged impaired and bring about more awareness, encouraging 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.

Funding for the checkpoint program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.