The Beverly Hills Police Department’s Traffic Bureau will conduct a sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, March 17, from 5-11 p.m. near North Santa Monica Boulevard and Crescent Drive.

All traffic will pass through the checkpoint and motorists will be stopped and contacted by uniformed officers checking for alcohol and drug-impairment. Officers will also check to make sure all motorists have valid driver’s licenses.

DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data about incidents of impaired driving-related collisions. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety and remove suspected impaired drivers from the road.

“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” BHPD Chief Mark G. Stainbrook said. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.”

The Beverly Hills Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not caused by alcohol. Prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may cause impairment. Driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal and can result in a DUI arrest.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license. Funding for impaired driving enforcement operations is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.