The Fullerton Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI)/driver’s license Checkpoint on December 19th from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at an undisclosed location.
DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road.
The holiday season can be dangerous for people on the roads. In December 2023 alone, 1,038 people were killed in the U.S. in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Fullerton Police Department wants to remind the public of the dangers of driving impaired and to celebrate the holiday season responsibly by not driving under the influence.
From December 12 through New Year’s Day, the Fullerton Police Department will also have additional officers on patrol looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The high-visibility enforcement effort is part of a national campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, with the goal of stopping suspected impaired drivers who put others at risk.
We want to make sure everyone gets home safely so that they can celebrate the holiday season with their families and loved ones. Not only is driving impaired illegal, but it is also dangerous and never acceptable. We are asking everyone to do their part to keep themselves and everyone on the roads safe.
The Fullerton Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal. Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.
Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing, delaying motorists only momentarily. When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving, which now accounts for a growing number of impaired driving crashes.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Here are the penalties suspects face in California for a first-time DUI offense (misdemeanor), whether impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both:
- Criminal penalties
- 3–5 years of informal (summary) probation
- Up to 6 months in county jail (often substituted with probation or work release)
- Fines ranging from $390 to $1,000, though total court assessments often exceed $1,800–$3,000
- Educational and treatment requirements
- Mandatory enrollment in a state-approved DUI education program (typically 3–9 months)
- Attendance at a victim impact panel may be required
- License-related consequences
- Driver’s license suspension:
- 4–6 months from the DMV administrative action
- A 6-month court-ordered suspension may overlap
- Possible issuance of a restricted/interlock license during suspension
- Ignition Interlock Device (IID) installation required, often for 6 months
- Driver’s license suspension:
- Administrative DMV actions
- 4-month suspension for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) ≥ 0.08%, or refusal to submit to testing
- Right to request a DMV hearing within 10 days of arrest to challenge suspension
- Additional consequences and costs
- SR‑22 insurance filing and significantly increased auto insurance rates for ~3 years
- Collateral expenses may include vehicle impound and towing, attorney fees, and bail
🔹 Driving under the influence of drugs (including prescription, over-the-counter medications, or marijuana) is treated identically under Vehicle Code §23152(f)/(g).
These consequences work together to remove impaired drivers from the road and promote public safety.