By Lookout Staff

December 20, 2023 -- Santa Monica police will hold a DUI checkpoint Friday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location, police officials announced this week.

The location is "determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes," police said.

The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints are to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road," police officials said.

"Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk. Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improves traffic safety."

Police note that impaired driving is caused not only by alcohol, but by prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and marijuana.

"If you plan on drinking or taking medications that may impact your ability to drive safely, plan on staying at home," police said.

It is illegal for anyone 21 or older to drive with a blood alcohol content level (BAC) of .08 percent or higher.

According to the California Driver Handbook, it takes two drinks consumed within one hour by a woman between 120-160 pounds and three drinks by a man between 180-220 pounds to be over the legal limit.

One drink is based on 1.5 oz. of liquor (40 percent alcohol), 12 oz. of beer (4.5 percent alcohol) or a 5 oz. glass of wine (12 percent alcohol). The BAC lowers at a rate of .01 percent for every 40 minutes between drinks.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.