DUI Checkpoints Scattered Across Desert For Holiday Weekend

The fourth of July is the deadliest holiday in the United States involving alcohol-related crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.

Law enforcement agencies across the Southland are holding DUI checkpoints through the weekend to catch impaired drivers.

As the desert sands whipped around, clouding the roads, traffic along Interstate 10 Friday steadily picked up.

“We’re going to go the back routes so that we do avoid the traffic,” said Kevin Smith, traveling to Lake Mead. “I just learned years ago out there that, that’s the way to go especially on a holiday weekend.”

Rasheda Baker is heading west out of the valley, and north to Las Vegas for a wedding “and, a little of this and a little of that,” she said.

Baker hopes traffic will be light, “but, [I’m] preparing for the worst,” she said.

Baker is also a nurse, and has seen all too many times, the deadly consequences of driving under the influence.

“Don’t drink and drive,” she cautioned. “It’s not worth it.”

“You always kind of worry about that. So, you drive pretty defensibly,” said Martina Balderrama, traveling to Oxnard. “Try to stay off the freeway when it’s too late.”

The Palm Springs Police Department is one of several Southland law enforcement agencies to hold a DUI checkpoint.

The Indian Wells Police Department hunted for drunken drivers as well, and the CHP increased patrols for the weekend.

“We’re kind of late,” said Baker. “We wanted to be gone by early this morning.”

Kevin Smith is one of millions of drivers that filled up his boat and RV before heading to the river.

“We’re gonna go through Twentynine Palms, Amboy, and old Route 66 through Laughlin, through the desert,” he said. “It’s all backroads.

If you planned on drinking over the weekend, take advantage of a free desert taxi program.

It’s called “Safe Ride Home.”

It runs from at 6 p.m. on Saturday until 2 a.m. on Sunday. The program resumes at 6 p.m. on Sunday, ending at two 2 a.m. on Monday. It aims to ensure a safe holiday weekend.

“Family and friends, an extra day off of work… can’t complain,” said Baker.

About half of all crashes during the fourth of July are alcohol related, according to the NHTSA.

However, overall, DUI related deaths have dropped more than 20 percent since 2005.