CHP is planning a DUI checkpoint at this Sacramento-area spot. Here’s when and where

The California Highway Patrol will be on the lookout for drunken drivers this week in the Woodland area.

CHP officers will be stationed on westbound Highway 16, east of County Road 97, in the unincorporated area of Yolo County to catch those driving influence of intoxicants, the agency said in a news release Monday.

That’s about a half-hour drive from downtown Sacramento.

Set-up for the DUI checkpoint will begin at approximately 5:30 p.m., the CHP said, and it will be operational from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday.

“If there is inclement weather, the checkpoint will be canceled for safety reasons,” the CHP said, and officers will conduct “roving DUI patrols” instead.

To determine if a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, officers will have breath-testing devices and experts certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be on site., the release said.

In addition to drunk driving, impaired driving includes the use of medications, among them prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Funding for the DUI checkpoint program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Law enforcement agencies are legally required to notify the public of DUI checkpoints ahead of time.

Do I have to comply with police at DUI checkpoint?

California Vehicle Code 2814.2 says all drivers must stop and submit to a sobriety checkpoint inspection when law enforcement requires it.

However, a driver is not legally obligated to submit to field sobriety tests, pre-arrest breath tests or cheek swabs at a DUI checkpoint, according to Shouse California Law Group.

Read more: Do I have to comply with law enforcement at a DUI checkpoint? See what California law says

Can I avoid a drunk driving checkpoint?

If a driver has not yet been stopped by law enforcement, there are ways they can avoid the checkpoint.

There is no state or federal law that prohibits someone from turning around or finding another route — as long as it is safe to do so — to avoid a DUI checkpoint, according to Shouse California Law Group.

Read more: California driving laws: Red lights, merging, car tags and more. Here are the rules

What are penalties for driving under the influence?

If you are stopped by law enforcement for driving under the influence of intoxicants, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has the authority to revoke or suspend your driving privilege.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI can also face an average of $13,500 in fines, fees and more.

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