Santa Ana, CA — The California Highway Patrol (CHP) Santa Ana Area has announced a DUI sobriety checkpoint scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025, at an undisclosed location within an unincorporated community in Santa Ana.
This proactive measure is part of CHP’s ongoing commitment to protect lives and property by removing impaired drivers from local roadways. According to Acting Commander Gustavo Torres, the checkpoint is strategically placed in areas with a high frequency of intoxicated driving incidents.
“All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on our local roadways by intoxicated drivers,” said Torres. “Removing impaired drivers saves lives, and that’s our number one goal.”
The checkpoint will augment existing patrol operations, with officers checking all vehicles—traffic volume permitting—for signs of alcohol or drug impairment. Torres emphasized the seriousness of the initiative:
“Our objective is to send a clear message to individuals who consider driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs: you will be caught and your vehicle will be towed away.”
This operation is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The CHP encourages the public to stay informed and engaged by following their updates on social media:
Twitter: @CHP_Santa_Ana.
Impact of a DUI arrest
Here’s a summary of what happens if you’re caught at a DUI checkpoint in California:
Legal Penalties:
- First offense:
- Jail: 2 days to 6 months
- Fine: $390 to $1,000
- License suspension: 4 months
- DUI education program: 3 to 9 months
- Second offense (within 10 years):
- Jail: 96 hours to 1 year
- License suspension: 2 years
- DUI education program: 18 to 30 months
- Third offense:
- Jail: 120 days to 1 year
- License suspension: 3 years
- DUI education program: 30 months
- Other consequences:
- Mandatory ignition interlock device (IID)
- Probation
- Felony charges if injury or death occurs
Impact on Auto Insurance:
- Your insurance premium may increase by up to 148%
- You’ll be required to file an SR-22 form for 3 years
- A DUI stays on your DMV record for 10 years
- Insurance rates may stay high for 3 to 7 years
- Your insurer may cancel or refuse to renew your policy
- You may lose good driver discounts
- You might need to switch to a high-risk insurance provider
Unincorporated Orange County
In the Santa Ana area, one of the most notable unincorporated communities is Santa Ana Heights. This neighborhood is located near the border of Santa Ana and Newport Beach and has historically been considered part of unincorporated Orange County.
Other nearby unincorporated areas in Orange County include:
- North Tustin (including Cowan Heights, Lemon Heights, Panorama Heights)
- Orange Park Acres
- El Modena
- Olive
- Orange Hills
These areas are often surrounded by incorporated cities but remain under county jurisdiction, which can lead to differences in municipal services and governance. OC LAFCO (Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission) has been working for decades to transition many of these pockets into adjacent cities to improve service delivery.